Connecting free volume with shape memory properties in noncytotoxic gamma‐irradiated polycyclooctene |
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| Authors: | José María Cuevas Clarisse Ribeiro David Mérida José Manuel Laza José Ángel García José Luis Vilas Senentxu Lanceros‐Méndez Fernando Plazaola Luis Manuel León |
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| Institution: | 1. Gaiker Technology Centre, Zamudio, Spain;2. Center/Department of Physics, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal;3. Department of Electricity and Electronics, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Spain;4. Departamento de Química Física, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Spain;5. Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures (BCMaterials), Derio, Spain;6. Department of Applied Physics II, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Spain |
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| Abstract: | The free volume holes of a shape memory polymer have been analyzed considering that the empty space between molecules is necessary for the molecular motion, and the shape memory response is based on polymer segments acting as molecular switches through variable flexibility with temperature or other stimuli. Therefore, thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) have been applied to analyze shape recovery and free volume hole sizes in gamma‐irradiated polycyclooctene (PCO) samples, as a noncytotoxic alternative to more conventional PCO crosslinked via peroxide for future applications in medicine. Thus, a first approach relating structure, free volume holes and shape memory properties in gamma‐irradiated PCO is presented. The results suggest that free volume holes caused by gamma irradiation in PCO samples facilitate the recovery process by improving movement of polymer chains and open possibilities for the design and control of the macroscopic response. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1080–1088 |
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| Keywords: | free volume gamma‐irradiated polycylooctene noncytotoxic polymers positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy shape memory polymers |
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