HIGH FLASH POINT FLUIDS FOR IN SITU PLASTICIZATION OF POLYMERS

摘要

An in situ method to deploy and/or plasticize a shape-memory material in order to change the material's physical dimensions and/or mechanical properties, includes a method for deploying a shape memory polymer having a deformed or compressed shape in an environment at a first temperature, the shape memory polymer having a first glass transition temperature which is greater than the first temperature. The method also includes contacting the shape memory polymer with an activation fluid in an amount effective to decrease the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer from the first glass transition temperature to a second glass transition temperature which is less than or equal to the first temperature, where the activation fluid comprises a sugar present in an amount effective to raise a flash point of the activation fluid.

主权项

1. A method for deploying a shape memory polymer, comprising:
disposing a shape memory polymer having a deformed shape in an environment at a first temperature, the shape memory polymer having a first glass transition temperature that is greater than the first temperature; contacting the shape memory polymer with an activation fluid in an amount effective to decrease the glass transition temperature of the shape memory polymer from the first glass transition temperature to a second glass transition temperature which is less than or equal to the first temperature where the activation fluid is selected from the group consisting of methanol, aldehydes, amides, amines, carboxylic acids, esters, diketones, glycol ethers, carbohydrates, and combinations thereof; where the activation fluid comprises a sugar present in an amount effective to raise a flash point of the activation fluid where the sugar is selected from the group consisting of fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, and combinations thereof; and expanding the shape memory polymer to deploy the shape memory polymer in a deployed shape.