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Advanced Materials Portfolio
  Veriflex® E Epoxy-Based
Shape
Memory Polymer
Cured Veriflex E combines shape memory
properties with the high toughness and strength of epoxy. When
heated above its activation temperature, Veriflex E changes from
a rigid plastic to an elastic state. While elastic, it can be
twisted, pulled, bent, and stretched. When cooled,
the polymer hardens and can maintain
its deformed configuration indefinitely. When heated again, the
polymer returns to the shape in which it was cured. This process
can be repeated for many cycles without loss of the memory shape
or degradation of the material.
Veriflex E comes as either a one-part
or two-part, fully formable, thermoset shape memory polymer (SMP)
resin system. Engineered with an activation temperature of approximately
90°C (194°F) for one-part Veriflex E, and 104°C (219°F)
for two-part Veriflex E, the resin can be cured in an open mold.
Epoxy is a well-understood and commonly used resin
system. It provides convenient processing, usage, and property
modification. Veriflex E is a high-performance material formulated
from commercially available resins and curing agents. It can be
cast and cured into a variety of “memorized” shapes,
depending on the application requirements. Epoxy
SMP
has
a
very
sharp
modulus
transition
curve,
yielding
a
quick
recovery
to
the
“memory”
shape
upon
heating
above
the
transition
temperature.
There are many activation methods for thermally responsive Veriflex E:
- Resistive heating
- Embedded heaters (for example, stretchy heaters, nichrome wires)
- Contact heating (MRE heaters)
- Induction heating
- Dielectic heating
- Microwave heating
- Infrared radiant heating
Some of these methods may be enabled by fillers such as conductive fillers, CNT, CNF, iron and ferrite.
Benefits
•
Toughness
•
Unique
shape
memory
properties
•
Recovery
to
memorized
shape
after
repeated
deformation
•
Ability to change from a rigid polymer to rubbery elastomer
• Over 95% (one-part resin) and 100% (two-part resin) elongation possible
in
elastic
state
•
Low
viscosity
for
easy
processing
(RTM
or
VARTM)
(two-part
resin)
•
Open-mold
curable
•
Aesthetic
clarity
•
Machinability
once
cured
Applications
• Customized, reusable
molds
• Deployable mechanisms and structures
• Adjustable furniture
• Reformable toys
• Customized containers, adjustable
shipping and packaging
• Actuators
• Sensors
• Space-qualifiable applications
• Removable mandrels
• Automotive components
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