Research Status and Potential Direction for Thermoplastic Shape Memory Polymers and Composites: A Review

Shape memory polymers (SMPs), due to the programmable deformation and recovery ability, exhibit widespread potential in fields of biomedical devices, smart actuators, and engineering structures. Thermoplastic SMPs, which possess the intrinsic linear molecular chain structures, are able to be processed through diverse methods, in addition to being re-processed after process-forming, compared with thermoset SMPs. The environmental recycling characteristics for thermoplastic SMPs describe their wide use potential and prospect. In this paper, a comprehensive description of mechanism, matrix polymers, actuations, and applications for thermoplastic SMPs and composites was reviewed. Furthermore, two promising potential developing directions, 4D printing metamaterial and dynamic covalent networks, were proposed. The multifunctionality and enhanced performances of thermoplastic SMPs and composites exhibited excellent application value, which is significant for future advancements.