Shape Memory Polymers
Deployment Applications
Shape memory polymer's most common early applications
involved deployment. Some examples included SMP hinges and
deployable dish shapes.
CRG developed a molding process for SMP rods.
Using one of the molded rods, we constructed a torsion hinge
demonstration in which the thermally activated rod rotates
an aluminum bar 180 degrees. The animation
below shows a deploying torsion hinge made of SMP.
The photographs below show a snapshot series
of a folded dish shape made of SMP deploying in heated water.
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