Water-induced shape memory behavior of poly (vinyl alcohol) and p-coumaric acid-modified water-soluble chitosan blended membrane

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2021-04, Vol.257, p.117633-117633, Article 117633
• Main Authors: Panda, Pradeep Kumar, Yang, Jen-Ming, Chang, Yen-Hsiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Membrane technology; Poly (vinyl alcohol); Polymer matrix; Shape memory properties; Water-soluble chitosan
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.117633

•PVA and modified water-soluble chitosan blended membrane were fabricated.•PVA/M-Cs membrane showed excellent water-induced shape memory behavior.•PVA/M-Cs membrane shape recovery ratio reached approximately 100 %.•PVA/M-Cs membrane showed the lowest hydrophilic surface. Shape memory polymer (SMP), composites and blends need to be prepared to improve the properties or obtain new functions of SMPs. In this work, we successfully prepared p-coumaric acid-modified water-soluble chitosan (M-Cs) and poly (vinyl alcohol) blended membrane (PVA/M-Cs) by a simple solution casting method to enhance its physico-chemical properties, including water-induced shape memory behavior. M-Cs were synthesized from native chitosan (Cs) using carbodiimide chemistry. After the addition of M-Cs into the PVA polymer matrix, it exhibited better water-induced shape memory behavior and shape recovery ratio reach nearly 100 %. Moreover, the water contact angle value declined after the addition of Cs or M-Cs in to the PVA polymer matrix. Based on these findings, the respective blended membranes will be able to broaden the applications of SMPs in many sectors, especially in the biomedical field, which requires water as the main stimulus.