Patent ID: 8865310

Claim:
A polymer system comprising: a first polymeric dual shape memory material layer; and a second polymeric dual shape memory material layer coupled to said first polymeric dual shape memory material layer to form a bi-layer polymeric material, wherein said first polymeric dual shape memory material layer has a first glass transition temperature, said second polymeric dual shape memory material layer has a second glass transition temperature, and the first glass transition temperature and the second glass transition temperatures are well separated thermal transitions such that the DMA curve of the bi-layer polymeric material has a mid-level plateau in storage modulus between the first glass transition temperature of the first polymeric dual shape memory material layer and the second glass transition temperature of the second polymeric dual shape memory material layer, a higher plateau at a temperature less than the first and second glass transition temperatures, and a lower plateau at a temperature above the first and the second glass transition temperatures; wherein said bi-layer polymeric material is capable of transforming between 3 distinct shapes: an original shape, a first temporary shape, and a second temporary shape, without delamination between said first polymeric dual shape memory material layer and said second polymeric dual shape memory material layer, and wherein said first polymeric dual shape memory material layer is covalently bonded to said second polymeric dual shape memory material layer.