Shape Memory Polymer Composites of Poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) Copolymer/Liner Low Density Polyethylene/Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Remote Activation

Magnetically sensitive shape memory poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) copolymer (SBS)/liner low density polyethylene (LLDPE) composites filled with various contents of Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared. The influence of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles content on the thermal properties, mechanical properties, fracture morphology, magnetic behavior, and shape memory effect of SBS/LLDPE/Fe3O4 composites was systematically studied in this paper. The results indicated that homogeneously dispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticles ensured the uniform heat generation and transfer in the alternating magnetic field, and endowed the SBS/LLDPE/Fe3O4 composites with an excellent magnetically responsive shape memory effect. When the shape memory composites were in the alternating magnetic field (f = 60 kHz, H = 21.21 kA·m−1), the best shape recovery ratio reached 99%, the shape retention ratio reached 99.4%, and the shape recovery speed increased significantly with the increment of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. It is anticipated that tagging products with this novel shape memory composite is helpful for the purpose of an intravascular delivery system in Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) devices.