Shape Memory Elastomeric Composites and Method of Manufacturing [Shape Memory Elastomeric Composites]

A shape memory composite consisting of an electrospun non-woven fiber mat and an elastomeric resin matrix. The fiber mat is made from a semi-crystalline polymer, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and serves as the “switching phase” for shape fixing and recovery. The resin matrix, a crosslinked PDMS elastomer, imparts softness as well as entropic elasticity to the material. PCL is first electrospun from a chloroform/DMF solution. The resulting microfiber mat was then immersed in a two-part (base resin and crosslinking agent) mixture of Sylgard 184 with a vacuum applied to infiltrate the fiber mat with the mixture. The infiltrated fiber mat is then removed from the mixture and cured at room temperature for two days.