Nowadays, shape memory polymers play key role in various applications, thanks to their outstanding properties, such as superb flexibility, light weight, capacity to respond to environmental stimuli, as well as easy processability and low-cost mass production. Two-way shape memory polymers are able to achieve programmable movement under external stimuli, which can be widely used in soft robotics and smart textiles. Recently, design and fabrication of heat-responsive shape memory actuators integrated to textiles have been shown to drive large contraction and expansion upon heating and, in addition, these textiles are able to perform complex motions. Polyamide (PA) is an excellent candidate for shape memory actuators due to its high thermal stability, excellent chemical resistance, good processability, and recyclability. However, there are still some challenges in adaptation of PA to shape memory polymer actuators. Firstly, polyamide itself does not have sufficient elasticity for large deformation. Moreover, high amount of thermal energy is required for thermal resetting due to high melting point of pure polyamide. In addition to the mentioned challenges, utilization of petroleum-based thermoplastic polymers arises evident environmental concerns. In this work, we demonstrate how combining self-synthesized copolyamide derived from bio-based monomer to different concentrations of starch as a natural plasticizer can lead to the development of low-melting point shape memory actuators, which not only are able to undergo significant deformation under external stimuli, but also reduce the usage of petroleum-based polymers. Our strategy offers a facile route to design smart heat-responsive filaments by using bio-based polymer which can add value to state-of-the art smart textiles.

Effect of bioplasticizer on thermoresponsive low-melting point shape memory copolyamide

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