Hydrogen-bonded polymer network—poly(ethylene glycol) complexes with shape memory effect

Abstract

Complexes of a poly(methacrylic acid-co-methyl methacrylate) network with poly(ethylene glycol) stabilized by hydrogen bonds were prepared. By introducing poly(ethylene glycol), the complexes possessed shape memory effect, due to which a large difference in storage modulus below and above the glass transition temperature occurred. The morphology of the complexes was investigated and the mechanism of the shape memory behavior was discussed. This kind of complexes can be regarded as a novel shape memory network.