Chinese scientists develop shape memory polymer with delayed recovery onset

Chinese scientists have created a memory material that can deform after a delay when triggered. This advancement opens up new possibilities for biological devices, soft robotics, aerospace structures, and flexible electronics. The hydrogel, detailed in a recent study in Nature, undergoes shape transformation at natural ambient temperature with a delay of up to 46 minutes. This delay is customizable, offering precise control over shape-shifting.

This is crucial as some polymers rely on natural stimuli like body temperature, but controlling their transformation timing has been a challenge for implantable devices. The researchers demonstrated a 4D-printed intravascular stent that changed shape at a specific time in a blocked blood vessel. This innovation significantly eases the implementation of such devices, promising a new era of advanced applications.

Source – CGTN