@article{YanFangNoecheletal.2016, author = {Yan, Wan and Fang, Liang and N{\"o}chel, Ulrich and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Influence of programming strain rates on the shape-memory performance of semicrystalline multiblock copolymers}, series = {Journal of polymer science : B, Polymer physics}, volume = {54}, journal = {Journal of polymer science : B, Polymer physics}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0887-6266}, doi = {10.1002/polb.24097}, pages = {1935 -- 1943}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Multiblock copolymers named PCL-PIBMD consisting of crystallizable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) segments and crystallizable poly[oligo(3S-iso-butylmorpholine-2,5-dione)] segments coupled by trimethyl hexamethylene diisocyanate provide a versatile molecular architecture for achieving shape-memory effects (SMEs) in polymers. The mechanical properties as well as the SME performance of PCL-PIBMD can be tailored by the variation of physical parameters during programming such as deformation strain or applied temperature protocols. In this study, we explored the influence of applying different strain rates during programming on the resulting nanostructure of PCL-PIBMD. Programming was conducted at 50 degrees C by elongation to epsilon(m)=50\% with strain rates of 1 or 10 or 50 mmmin(-1). The nanostructural changes were visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements and investigated by in situ wide and small angle X-ray scattering experiments. With increasing the strain rate, a higher degree of orientation was observed in the amorphous domains. Simultaneously the strain-induced formation of new PIBMD crystals as well as the fragmentation of existing large PIBMD crystals occurred. The observed differences in shape fixity ratio and recovery stress of samples deformed with various strain rates can be attributed to their different nanostructures. The achieved findings can be relevant parameters for programming the shape-memory polymers with designed recovery forces. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1935-1943}, language = {en} } @article{YanFangNoecheletal.2015, author = {Yan, Wan and Fang, Liang and N{\"o}chel, Ulrich and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas}, title = {Influence of deformation temperature on structural variation and shape-memory effect of a thermoplastic semi-crystalline multiblock copolymer}, series = {eXPRESS polymer letters}, volume = {9}, journal = {eXPRESS polymer letters}, number = {7}, publisher = {Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Polymer Engineering}, address = {Budapest}, issn = {1788-618X}, doi = {10.3144/expresspolymlett.2015.58}, pages = {624 -- 635}, year = {2015}, abstract = {A multiblock copolymer termed as PCL-PIBMD, consisting of crystallizable poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) segments and crystallizable poly(3S-isobutyl-morpholine-2,5-dione) (PIBMD) segments, has been reported as a material showing a thermally-induced shape-memory effect. While PIBMD crystalline domains act as netpoints to determine the permanent shape, both PCL crystalline domains and PIBMD amorphous domains, which have similar transition temperatures (T-trans) can act as switching domains. In this work, the influence of the deformation temperature (T-deform = 50 or 20 degrees C), which was above or below T-trans, on the structural changes of PCL-PIBMD during uniaxial deformation and the shapememory properties were investigated. Furthermore, the relative contribution of crystalline PCL and PIBMD amorphous phases to the fixation of the temporary shape were distinguished by a toluene vapor treatment approach. The results indicated that at 50 degrees C, both PCL and PIBMD amorphous phases can be orientated during deformation, resulting in thermally-induced crystals of PCL domains and joint contribution to the switching domains. In contrast at 20 degrees C, the temporary shape was mainly fixed by PCL crystals generated via strain-induced crystallization.}, language = {en} }