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4.6 Summary
Poly(urethane) (PU) and their nanocomposite have been used as versatile materials
responsive to several external stimuli such as electricity, humidity, light, mechanical
force, pH, among others. In particular, conducting carbon nanoparticle-loaded PU
nanocomposites such as carbon nanotubes, fullerene, graphene and nanodiamonds
have been of great interest, as these materials have multiple improved properties
compared to the pure PU matrices. The development in the field of shape memory
PUs and their nanocomposites have had various technological applications in the
aerospace, biomedical and electronics industries. Finally, the design of shape memory PUs and their nanocomposites must be focused in order to obtain materials with
good mechanical properties, high recovery strain, and low cost and density of these
materials. These materials could also lead to several advanced high-performance
applications for the automotive and electronics industries.
Acknowledgments The author has no acknowledgements to be made.
Conflicts of Interest The author declares no conflict of interest.
Fig. 4.5 Scheme illustrating the performance of a shape memory PU microactuator for removing
a blood clot: (a) formation of temporary straight rod, (b) heating to form permanent corkscrew and
(c) retraction of microactuator to capture the clot
4 Carbon Nanoparticle-Loaded Shape Memory Polyurethanes: Design…
4.6 Summary
Poly(urethane) (PU) and their nanocomposite have been used as versatile materials
responsive to several external stimuli such as electricity, humidity, light, mechanical
force, pH, among others. In particular, conducting carbon nanoparticle-loaded PU
nanocomposites such as carbon nanotubes, fullerene, graphene and nanodiamonds
have been of great interest, as these materials have multiple improved properties
compared to the pure PU matrices. The development in the field of shape memory
PUs and their nanocomposites have had various technological applications in the
aerospace, biomedical and electronics industries. Finally, the design of shape memory PUs and their nanocomposites must be focused in order to obtain materials with
good mechanical properties, high recovery strain, and low cost and density of these
materials. These materials could also lead to several advanced high-performance
applications for the automotive and electronics industries.
Acknowledgments The author has no acknowledgements to be made.
Conflicts of Interest The author declares no conflict of interest.
Fig. 4.5 Scheme illustrating the performance of a shape memory PU microactuator for removing
a blood clot: (a) formation of temporary straight rod, (b) heating to form permanent corkscrew and
(c) retraction of microactuator to capture the clot
4 Carbon Nanoparticle-Loaded Shape Memory Polyurethanes: Design…