Recoverable strain storage capacity of shape memory polyethylene

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are an important class of smart materials. So far the focus of such polymers was to find suited triggers for various application fields. Thus, the potential of most of these macromolecular networks regarding their maximally storable strain capability was not explored. In this study, the polyethylenes HDPE, LDPE, and ethylene‐1‐octene (EOC) were systematically investigated with respect to their strain storage potential. To achieve maximum strains, the polymers were chemically cross‐linked in such a way that they are at the borderline between thermoplastics and elastomers. All investigated polymers showed higher strain storage than literature reported systems and exhibited excellent shape memory parameters. The highest stored strain was found for networks of EOC with fully recoverable 1400%. Interestingly, this value could not be enlarged by using EOCs with higher molecular weight, which is probably due to increasing content of entanglements as confirmed by Mooney‐Rivlin. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1033–1040