ABSTRACT

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) play a significant role in fundamental academic research and
technological innovations in industries since 1980s. And found potential applications in various
fields include medicine, automobile, sensors, space technology, actuators, biomaterials, smart
textile and fabrics, cosmetics etc.
Among the shape memory materials, SMPs have advantage over shape memory alloy and shape
memory ceramics as it has low cost, low density, excellent biocompatibility, and easy
processability. Thus, SMPs show great potential for application in sensors and actuators,
biomedical devices, aerospace, self-deployable structures etc. However, SMPs has some
disadvantages based on engineering aspects such as low mechanical strengths and thermal
conductivities which largely restricts their applications. And this has opened special emerging
technological class of shape memory polymers mainly described as shape memory polymers
nanocomposites (SMPnCs) in which functional organic, inorganic nano-fillers and reinforcement
of nano particles in the SMP matrices is introduced. Incorporation of nano-fillers is purposely
carried out which allows modification of mechanical, electrical, physical, chemical properties of
nanocomposite and they can switch between an original shape and one or more temporary
shapes.
Contributing to the present research, a short overview of most recent trends within the field of
multifunctional versatile SMPNCs is reviewed with special emphasis on correlation between
structure and properties, their structures, shape-memory effects and their working mechanism
under different stimulation methods such as thermal-induced, electro-activated, light-induced,
and magnetic-actuated, Near Infrared actuated, microwave actuated and solution-responsive. The
paper also describes the comparison of mechanical properties, structural, electrical
conductivities, electrochemical activities and their direct relationships with nano-filler-polymer
interactions and their dispersion in the polymer matrix to facilitate progress in this emerging
area.
Considering all of the shape memory polymers, the general shape memory polymers like
polyurethane, epoxy, polycaprolactone, starch, polylactic acid, and polyvinyl alcohol based
nanocomposite with carbonic fillers (carbon nanotube, graphene oxide, graphene nanoplatelets,
graphene quantum dots, carbon black, etc.), cellulose nanocrystals, Fe 3O4, nano diamond, nano
clay, TiO2, sepiolite, silsesquioxane, and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) have been
reported in this paper. Essential features such as mechanical properties and thermal
conductivities were enhanced using these nanofillers though the fillers acted as obstructers or
promoters for the thermal response speed of SMPs.