Reprocessable Shape Memory Epoxy Resin Based on Substituent Biphenyl Structure

Despite significant progress in realizing the reprocessability in epoxy resins, it is very meaningful to develop a reprocessable shape memory epoxy resins with excellent shape recovery properties and good repeatability. In this work, a reprocessable shape memory epoxy resin based on substituent diphenyl structure is synthesized successfully via solution polymerization, which possesses good shape memory performance both before and after reprocessing with shape fixity ratio (Rf) over 95%, shape recovery ratio (Rr) more than 99% and fine shape recovery ability. This work can provide a feasible approach to improve the shape memory performance of shape memory epoxy resin, a further understanding of shape memory mechanisms and the broadening field of application. A reprocessable shape memory epoxy resin with good shape memory properties and good reprocessing ability is designed. Because the orientable substituent diphenyl structures and the dynamically exchangeable ester bonds are introduced into epoxy network to improve the shape memory properties and to enable the reprocessability, respectively.