Styrene-based shape memory foam: fabrication and mathematical modeling.

Shape memory polymer foam is a promising kind of structure in the biomedical and aerospace field. Shape memory styrene foam with uniform and controlled open-cell structure was successfully fabricated using a salt particulate leaching method. Shape recovery capability exists for foam programming in both high-temperature compression and low-temperature compression (<T_g) in the deformation processes. Such a property could expand its potential application in the self-healing field. The mechanical property at different temperatures was thoroughly studied. Shape recovery properties such as shape fixing property and shape recovery ratio were also characterized. In order to provide guidance for the future fabrication of shape memory foam, the theories of Gibson and Ashby as well as differential micromechanics theory were applied to predict Young’s modulus and the mechanical behavior of SMP styrene foams during the compression process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]