Adaptive and Functional Polymers, Textiles and Their Applications

The following sections are included:

• Preface

• Acknowledgements

• Contents

This chapter will briefly introduce the molecular design, synthesis, structure and properties, characterisation method and applications of adaptive polymers. There are many smart and functional materials, and adaptive polymers are one such example. This book mainly focuses on adaptive polymers and textiles. First, some concepts will be suggested and definitions of adaptive polymers and textiles are reviewed. Following that, the characteristics, structures and potential applications of adaptive polymers will be summarised. Developing novel smart adaptive polymers and textiles are challenging, and some future trends are suggested at the end.

This chapter introduces the principle of shape memory function in polymers and classifies shape memory polymers according to their molecular structures, trigger patterns and applications based on a literature review. One of the novel functional shape memory polymers with substrate bonding antibacterial activity is detailed and a new design of supramolecular shape memory polymers is discussed. Finally, shape memory fibres are introduced in comparison with other existing man-made fibres to clarify the uniqueness of such smart textile materials.

The definition and classification of polymer gels will be first provided in this chapter. Then, the molecular structure and gelation theory of adaptive polymeric gels are systemically reviewed. The molecular design and synthesis methods of adaptive polymeric gels will then be discussed. Various preparation methods of adaptive polymeric gels, including grating, plasma treatment, r-ray and UV irradiation and free radical polymerisation methods are introduced as well. In the last section of the chapter, the properties of adaptive polymeric gels and their applications are summarised.

This chapter provides a comprehensive review on adaptive polymeric particles and their applications. The definition, classification, structure, theory and processing of fabrication, properties and applications are discussed in sequence. Adaptive polymeric particles exhibit a number of unique properties due to their special forms and large surface area. Adaptive polymeric particles are a type of particle which can express a sharp change within a narrow range of external stimuli, such as light, heat or temperature, pH or ion, electric field, chemicals and so on. Researchers have developed two types of fabrication methods: chemical and physical. The synthesis theories have been suggested as well. Stimuli-responsive polymer particles are very promising in the field of academic studies and applied research. Adaptive particles have a wide range of applications in various fields, such as drug delivery, chemical separation, use in biomaterials, textile finishing, self cleaning and so on.

Adaptive polymer textiles are defined as textiles that made of adaptive polymer alone or adaptive polymer and other natural, synthesis materials can sense and react to environmental conditions or stimuli from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical or magnetic sources. Thermoregulation, shape memory, chameleonic, laminate, conductive, thermo regulated and other functional polymer textiles are introduced in this chapter.

Adaptive composites are a very important type of smart material. Their shape and mechanical, mass transfer and electrical properties can adapt to different stimulations. This chapter comprehensively reviews the different kinds of adaptive composites with heat, electricity, light, magnetic field or moisture as stimulus. Due to the versatility of composites, adaptive composites have been broadly used in artificial muscles, electrochemical devices, robotics, biomimetics, miniature manipulators, actuators and sensors, active sound absorbing materials, flexible speakers, dust-wipers, various intelligent medical instruments and auxiliaries, smart textiles and apparels, heat shrinkable materials for electronics packaging, micro-systems and self-deployable solar sails in spacecrafts. The applications of adaptive composites in smart textiles are highlighted in this chapter.

Adaptive and functional polymers have drawn much attention in many fields due to their unique properties. Through nanotechnology, there have been reports of fabricating various adaptive polymer nanostructures, such as nanofibres and nanofilms, in recent years. In this chapter, fabrication of nanofibres and nanofilms by concentrating on the electrospinning and self-assembly methods, are first introduced. At the same time, the principles and parameters of electrospinning as well as self-assembly are discussed. Secondly, the morphologies and structures of nanofibres and nanofibrous nonwovens are described briefly. Thirdly, we will present a brief review on the development of some typical adaptive polymer nanofibres and nanofilms, and in particularly, adaptive shape memory polymeric nanofibres and nanofibrous nonwovens; nonlinear optical nanofibres; responsive and adaptive porphyrin based nanostructures; adaptive nanocomposites and functional polymer nanofilms. Finally, the applications of nanofibres and nanofilms are introduced. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of adaptive nanofibres and nanofilms can be obtained in this chapter.

This chapter gives a brief description of the definition, development history and classification of cosmetics, and introduces the advantages and beautiful prospects of adaptive and functional polymers in the cosmetics field. We also further discuss the properties and cosmetic applications of five types of typical adaptive and functional polymers in this chapter, which are: hydrogels, cyclodextrins, polysaccharides, shape memory polymers and nanopolymer particles.

This chapter summarises different medical applications and the unique medical performance of adaptive polymer materials that use several different types of adaptive polymers. The content emphasises the progress and frontiers of adaptive polymeric products for medical applications, including design requirements and specific examples of tissue engineering, diagnosis, medical treatments and medical devices. These adaptive polymers include polymer gels, and shape memory, active, molecular imprinted and modified polymers, as well as other polymers with adaptive properties.

The following sections are included:

• Structure, Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Dendrimer Macromolecules

• Structure, Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Hyperbranched Macromolecules

• Structure, Properties of Chitosan and its Applications

• Cyclodextrins

• References

INDEX