Shape memory elastomers: A review of synthesis, design, advanced manufacturing, and emerging applications

Abstract

Shape memory elastomers (SMEs) are a class of intelligent materials characterized by their ability to deform and recover shapes under applied force and external stimuli. Heat and ultraviolet radiation are examples of the most common external stimuli. With the emerging prevalence of internet of things devices and the ensuing need for smart materials and structures, SMEs provide significant opportunities to support the development of novel applications in robotics, remotely actuated systems, and packages, including those promised for the space industry. To harness the immense potential in the emerging applications of these materials, one approach is the systematic multi-scale modeling coupled ..