Shape-Memory Polymers
Polymers that recover a stored shape when triggered.
Modelling the thermo-mechanical responses and shape recovery performance of particle-reinforced shape memory polymer composites in cold and hot programming
A study focused on modeling thermo-mechanical behavior and shape recovery of particle-reinforced shape-memory polymer composites when programmed in cold versus hot conditions.
Mobility-Driven Design of PDMS-Modified Glassy Polymer Networks for Thermally Activated Shape Memory in Vat Photopolymerization
By tuning PDMS-MMA mobility segments and switching monomer chemistry in photocurable networks, the study achieves thermally activated shape-memory behavior suitable for vat photopolymerization 4D printing.
A Versatile‐Designable Framework for Active and Programmable Shape‐Morphing Soft Matter Systems: From Inverse Design to Closed‐Loop Control
This research presents a framework for active and programmable shape-morphing soft matter systems, enhancing soft robotics capabilities.
FUTURE OF 4D PRINTING IN SOFT ROBOTICS AND INTELLIGENT AUTOMATION
A 2015–2025 review synthesizes how 4D printing with stimulus-responsive materials enables programmable, adaptive soft robotics and intelligent automation, while highlighting remaining barriers to translation.
Recent progress in 4D printing: materials, methods and applications
This review synthesizes how 4D printing couples additive methods with stimulus-responsive materials—especially shape-memory polymers—to achieve programmed, time-dependent shape and property changes, while noting reliability and scalability
In Situ Scanning Electron Microscopy Investigation of Flexural and Interlaminar Failure Mechanisms in Carbon Nanotube‐Reinforced Shape Memory Polymer Composites
In situ SEM shows that CNT-reinforced shape memory polymer composites fail via distinct, architecture-dependent mechanisms, with buckypaper interleaves improving Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness.
4D Printing of TBCHA-Based Shape Memory Polymer Composites: Bioglass 45S5 Addition Improves Stability Retention and Shape Memory Performance
4D-printed TBCHA-based shape-memory polymer composites with Bioglass 45S5 show improved stability retention and shape-memory performance.
Solvent‐Responsive Shape Memory Porous Semicrystalline Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Porous semicrystalline TPU made by salt-leaching can recover shape in ethyl acetate, with solvent-driven changes in amorphous mobility and partial crystalline dissolution improving recovery while preserving mechanical properties.
Multimaterial 4D printing of adaptive and reconfigurable auxetic metastructures
Multimaterial 4D printing with PLA/PCL enables auxetic metastructures whose geometry–material coupling yields tunable mechanics, energy absorption, and thermally induced reconfigurability.
4D Printing in Biomedical Implants and Functional Healthcare Devices
A review of biomedical 4D printing that links stimuli-responsive material platforms to programmed, time-dependent actuation for implants, drug delivery, and adaptive wearables.
Single-material 4D-printed shape-morphing structures via spatially patterned strain trapping
A single-step, single-material 4D printing approach uses spatially patterned strain trapping to program one-way, spatially controlled shape morphing without secondary post-programming.
Shape Memory Polymers: An Overview
This review systematically surveys shape-memory polymer composites and their thermally, solvent, light, electrically, and magnetically induced response mechanisms, highlighting key design strategies and remaining challenges.
Shape-morphing greenhouse: design of a thermally responsive transparent 4D-printed structure
A proof-of-concept transparent 4D-printed PLA greenhouse structure was tested for thermally driven shape-morphing ventilation using bio-inspired mechanisms, showing concept potential but material and structural limits.
Applications and Research of 4D Printing in Material Design
4D printing integrates smart materials into additive manufacturing so cured parts can undergo programmable, stimulus-driven shape and functionality changes over time.
Exploring 4D Printing Technology for Biomedical Applications
The editorial argues that adding a time dimension to 3D printing via stimuli-responsive materials enables dynamic, personalized biomedical devices such as adaptive implants and controlled drug-release hydrogel capsules.
Robotic conformal 4D printing of liquid crystal elastomers
This research introduces a robotic 4D printing method for liquid crystal elastomers, enabling shape-changing structures on complex surfaces.
Machine learning-guided tuning of shape memory behavior in 4D-printed single-layer elastomer strip
Machine learning-guided optimization of 4D-printed PU/Eudragit S100/MTZ elastomer strips enables strong mechanical performance and high shape recovery for pH-responsive, site-specific drug delivery.
Fluorescent Shape Memory Polymer with Dynamic Aggregation-Induced Emission Cross-Linking: Visualization and Prediction of Shape Memory Performance
A fluorescent shape-memory polymer is designed with dynamic aggregation-induced emission cross-linking to enable visualization and prediction of its shape-memory performance.
Photothermal driven shape memory polymer based on MXene-grafted-polycaprolactone with fast response and easy recyclability
A photothermal-driven shape-memory polymer based on MXene-grafted polycaprolactone is presented as having fast response and easy recyclability.
Enhancing Shape Recovery and Mechanical Properties of Bisphenol-A-Epoxy-Based Shape Memory Polymer Composites (SMPCs) Using Amine Curing Agent Blends
Blending Bisphenol-A epoxy SMP with amine curing agents and adding carbon fillers improves curing/mechanics and yields faster, stronger shape recovery, with best results at 3 wt% filler.
Reinforcing Shape Memory Polymers With Reclaimed Carbon Fibers: Toward Sustainable and Functional Smart Composites
Reclaimed carbon fibers can be upcycled into shape-memory polymer composites that improve strength and enable faster thermal, hot-water, and electro-activated recovery, especially with longer fibers.
Enabling Rapid Filler‐Free Magnetic Actuation of Shape Memory Polymer Composites Using Woven Carbon Fabrics as Eddy Current Susceptor
A filler-free magnetic induction heating strategy uses conductive woven carbon fabrics in shape memory polymer composites, with laminate lay-up tuned to achieve full shape recovery in 30 s.
Fabrication and finite element analysis of variable-sensitivity force sensor using structural modification and stiffness change of shape-memory polymer
A variable-sensitivity force sensor is fabricated and analyzed using finite element analysis, leveraging stiffness changes in a shape-memory polymer.
Computational design and analysis of biocompatible shape memory polymer-based self-expandable stent
A finite-element workflow designs a biodegradable SMP-based self-expandable stent and identifies a five-cell lattice that yields high shape fixity and near-complete recovery with low deployment stress.