A bidirectionally reversible light-responsive actuator based on shape memory polyurethane bilayer

• Published in: Composites. Part A, Applied science and manufacturing Applied science and manufacturing, 2021-05, Vol.144, p.106322, Article 106322
• Main Authors: Wang, Tianjiao, Zhao, Jun, Weng, Chuanxin, Wang, Tong, Liu, Yayun, Han, Zhipeng, Zhang, Zhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A. Nanocomposites; A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); A. Smart materials; B. Optical properties
• ISSN: 1359-835X; 1878-5840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2021.106322

In this work, a simple method is proposed for the preparation of bidirectionally reversible light-responsive shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) bilayer. This SMPU bilayer consists of a 4,4-azodibenzoic acid (Azoa) containing SMPU (SMPU-Azoa) layer and a carbon black (CB) containing SMPU (SMPU-CB) layer. A reversible deformation is realized when the two sides are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) lights, respectively. The working mechanism is the trans–cis isomerization of SMPU-Azoa layer and the photo-thermal effect of SMPU-CB layer. The effect of the filler content and the thickness ratio of bilayer is systematically studied. The reversible bending angle of the SMPU bilayer can exceed 30° in 16 s for one cycle when the Azoa and CB contents are 5 wt% and 0.5 wt%, respectively, and the thickness ratio of SMPU-Azoa layer to SMPU-CB layer is 1/1.3. Furthermore, a micro-robot based on such LSMP bilayer is demonstrated.