Programming of Shape-Memory Polymers: The Temperature Memory Effect and Triple/Multiple-Shape-Memory Effect in Polymers

Temperature memory effect (TME) represents the recovery performance of shape-memory material depending on its deformation temperature. Based on TME, polymers can be programmed with two or more temporary shapes and exhibit subsequent shape-recovery during the heating process, which is named as triple-shape memory effect (TSME) and multiple-shape memory effect (MSME). In this chapter, we provide a review on the TME, TSME, and MSME in amorphous polymers, semicrystalline polymers, polymers with dual phase transitions and polymer bilayer/trilayer laminates. The review focuses on the experimental characterization of these effects as well as the theoretical modeling. The review will help reveal the physical mechanism of these effects in various polymer systems.