A review of stimuli-responsive shape memory polymer composites

The past decade has witnessed remarkable advances in stimuli-responsive shape memory polymers (SMPs) with potential applications in biomedical devices, aerospace, textiles, civil engineering, bionics engineering, energy, electronic engineering, and household products. Shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) have further enhanced and broadened the applications of shape memory polymers. In addition to reinforcement, SMPCs can enable or enhance athermal stimuli-active effects, novel shape memory effect, and new functions. Many athermal stimuli-responsive effects have been achieved such as electroactive effect, magnetic-active effect, water-active effect, and photoactive effect. The typical examples of novel shape memory effects are multiple-shape memory effect, spatially controlled shape memory effect, and two-way shape memory effect. In addition, new functions of SMPCs have been observed and systemically studied such as stimuli-memory effect and self-healing. This feature article presents an up-to-date review on these versatile SMPCs. The various methods to fabricate these SMPCs and the performances of the SMPCs are discussed. The potential directions for future advancement in this field are also discussed.