Topic: Teaching Polymers Memory Tricks

Speaker: Prof. Tao Xie, Zhejiang University

Time: 10:00 a.m., March 13, 2014

Venue: Conference Room 205, Building 14, SCUT North Campus

Sponsor: School of Materials Science and Engineering

Abstract:

The ability to undergo programmable shape shifting (i.e. shape memory) is a key feature that distinguishes shape memory polymers (SMP) from other stimuli-responsive polymers. A traditional SMP can only memorize one temporary shape and would recover to its permanent shape upon exposure to an external stimulus. Although this basic concept has been known for half a century, significant advances in the last five years have changed such a conventional view. In this talk, I will give an overview of my research activities on this subject. Particular emphasis will be placed on how the SMP field has evolved scientifically (e.g. discovery of multi-shape memory and temperature memory) and how one can take advantage of the polymer shape shifting for practical applications (e.g. bioinspired reversible adhesives, self-healing materials, and structural colors).