Local strain-induced energy storage as driving force for autogenous scratch closure

Autonomous through-thickness scratch repair (healing) in coatings requires scratch closure and interfacial molecular sealing. Although qualitative aspects of the first stage of self-healing have been addressed, quantitative description enabling the control over the healing process need further understanding. In this work the polymer-architecture...

Quantitative predictions of maximum strain storage in shape memory polymers (SMP)

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are dynamic materials able to recover previously defined shapes when activated by external stimuli. The most common stimulus is thermal energy applied near thermal transitions in polymers, such as glass transition (T_g) and melting (T_m) temperatures. The magnitude of the geometrical changes as...