Patent ID: 11926932
Assignee: NANO AND ADVANCED MATERIALS INSTITUTE LIMITED
Field: Textile and paper machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC D  C | IPC C  D

Claim 0:
1. Multi-component shape memory threads, fibers, tubes, or tapes comprising:
at least two shape-memory polymeric (SMP-N) components, wherein each of the at least two SMP-N components is of at least 1% of the total weight, and N is a positive integer starting from 1;
wherein each of the at least two shape-memory polymeric components is selected from the group consisting of a polyester-based polyurethane shape memory material and a polyether-based polyurethane shape memory material;
wherein the SMP-N components have a selectively engineered shape recovery temperature (Tr) between approximately 0° C. to 130° C., and when TrN and TrN+1 are higher than room temperature and wherein TrN+1 is greater than TrN, the threads, fibers, tubes, or tapes are configured to assume a first shape change from an original shape to a straight, elongated shape in response to an elongation of the threads, fibers, tubes, or tapes to approximately 30% to approximately 300% of an original length and are configured to assume a second shape change to a substantially helical configuration upon heating to a temperature above the TrN and lower than the TrN+1 and to assume a third shape change substantially back to the original shape upon heating to a temperature above TrN+1.