In shape-memory polymers, changes in shape are mostly induced by heating, and exceeding a specific switching temperature, T switch. If polymers cannot be warmed up by heat transfer using a hot liquid or gaseous medium, noncontact triggering will be required. In this article, the magnetically induced shape-memory effect of composites from magnetic nanoparticles and thermoplastic shapememory polymers is introduced. A polyetherurethane (TFX) and a biodegradable multiblock copolymer (PDC) with poly(p-dioxanone) as hard segment and poly( -caprolactone) as soft segment were investigated as matrix component. Nanoparticles consisting of an iron(III)oxide core in a silica matrix could be processed into both polymers. A homogeneous particle distribution in TFX could be shown. Compounds have suitable elastic and thermal properties for the shape-memory functionalization. Temporary shapes of TFX compounds were obtained by elongating at increased temperature and subsequent cooling under constant stress. Cold-drawing of PDC compounds at 25°C resulted in temporary fixation of the mechanical deformation by 50 -60%. The shape-memory effect of both composite systems could be induced by inductive heating in an alternating magnetic field (f ‫؍‬ 258 kHz; H ‫؍‬ 30 kA⅐m ؊1 ). The maximum temperatures achievable by inductive heating in a specific magnetic field depend on sample geometry and nanoparticle content. Shape recovery rates of composites resulting from magnetic triggering are comparable to those obtained by increasing the environmental temperature.nanocomposite ͉ shape-memory polymer ͉ stimuli-sensitive polymer S hape-memory polymers are able to recover their predefined original shape when exposed to an external stimulus. A prerequisite for the shape-memory effect is a preceding functionalization of the material to temporarily fix a mechanical deformation. Most shape-memory polymers are thermosensitive materials. The shape is actuated by exceeding a specific switching temperature, T switch (1). Thermoplastic shape-memory polymers have at least two separated phases, where the domains with the highest thermal transition (T perm ) stabilize the permanent shape by acting as physical netpoints. A second phase having another thermal transition T trans serves as switch. At temperatures above T trans the chain segments forming this phase are flexible and the material is highly elastic, whereas the flexibility of the chains below T trans is limited and enables the fixation of the temporary shape. T trans can either be a glass transition (T g ) or a melting temperature (T m ). Whereas T trans is the thermal transition of the switching segment phase, typically determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), T switch is result of a thermomechanical test used to quantify the shape-memory effect.An important class of thermoplastic shape-memory polymers are polyurethanes. They often contain a hard segment from methylene bis(4-phenylisocyanate) (MDI) and 1,4-butanediol. Depending on the switching segment, T trans can be either a melting...

We report on experiments that evaluate the potential of terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) for quality control of polymeric compounds. We investigate specimens out of a polyethylene compound with silver-coated titanium dioxide nanospheres and a glass-fiber reinforced epoxy composite. We further examine an industrial polymer product produced by injection molding. Our data demonstrates that THz imaging is a powerful tool for contactless quality control in the polymer industry.

A novel green lubricating oil additive (carbon quantum dot (CQD) particle-doped nickel (Ni-CQD)) was synthesized from citric acid and nickel acetate. The effects of CQD and Ni-CQD nanoparticles on the tribological behaviors of polyethylene glycol (PEG200) were investigated under different loads and reciprocation speeds. The results indicate that CQD and Ni-CQD particles can both enhance the lubrication properties of PEG200. However, the Ni-CQD nanoparticles enhanced the lubrication properties more than the plain CQD particles did. The average friction coefficient and wear rate of PEG200 containing 2 wt% Ni-CQDs were reduced by 35.5% and 36.4%, respectively, compared to PEG200 containing pure CQDs under a load of 8 N and reciprocation speed of 25 mm/s over 60 min. The friction and wear mechanisms are attributed to the fact that friction induces the Ni-CQDs to participate in the formation of a tribofilm, resulting in a low friction coefficient and wear rate.

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