US 12,269,944 B2
Shape memory behavior of epoxy/sliding-ring polymer composites
Hasmukh A. Patel, Katy, TX (US); Ali Zein Khater, Houston, TX (US); Peter Boul, Houston, TX (US); Pulickel M. Ajayan, Houston, TX (US); and Muhammad M. Rahman, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA); and William Marsh Rice University, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/550,653.
Prior Publication US 2023/0183471 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. C08L 63/00 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01); C08G 83/00 (2006.01)
CPC C08L 63/00 (2013.01) [B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 70/00 (2014.12); C08G 83/007 (2013.01); C08G 2280/00 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shape memory composition comprising:
about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % of a thermally-curable epoxy resin; and
about 1 wt % to about 25 wt % of a sliding-ring polymer additive comprising at least two molecules of a polyrotaxane, wherein the polyrotaxane comprises:
a linear polymer;
at least one ring compound, wherein the linear polymer is threaded through the opening of the ring compound, wherein the at least one ring compound is substituted with at least one member selected from:
an —O—CO—R2 group and at least one ether group, wherein R2 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-12 carbons,
polyurethane,
or a combination thereof; and
stopper groups disposed at both end terminals of the linear polymer;
wherein the shape memory composition is able to shape deform from an original shape into a reconfigurable memory shape or temporary shape by applying a temperature of about 80° C. to about 120° C. and is shape memorable at room temperature; and
wherein the reconfigurable memory shape or the temporary shape is transformed back to the original shape at a temperature of about 25° C. to about 140° C.