Sustainable Block Copolymer-based Thermoplastic Elastomers

Thermoplastic Elastomers with Photo-actuating Properties

This contribution reviews elastomeric materials with photo-actuation behavior with emphasis on thermoplastic elastomers and their composites. The principles of the photo-actuation and the main factors affecting the photo-actuation phenomena of thermoplastic elastomer materials are discussed in detail. The well-performing photoactuating systems involving both statistical and block copolymers-bas...

Damping Behavior of the Phenolic Based Composite Friction Materials Containing Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs)

Attempts have been made for the first time to produce a friction material with thermal sensitive modulus by the inclusion of combined plastic/rubber properties of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) as viscoelastic polymeric materials into the formulation for the purpose of increasing the damping behavior. In order to evaluate the viscoelastic parameters such as loss factor (tan δ) and elastic m...

Multiphase design of autonomic self-healing thermoplastic elastomers.

The development of polymers that can spontaneously repair themselves after mechanical damage would significantly improve the safety, lifetime, energy efficiency and environmental impact of man-made materials. Most approaches to self-healing materials require the input of external energy, healing agents, solvent or plasticizer. Despite intense research in this area, the synthesis of a stiff mate...

Preferential Nanoreinforcement of Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomers with Dispersed Nano-Clay

It is difficult for scientists to engineer elastomeric materials that are both strong and tough like spider dragline silk. Inspired by the morphology of spider dragline silk and motivated to develop strong, tough, elastomeric polyurethanes to be used in soldier applications I have prepared polyurethane/clay nanocomposites. Polymer/clay nanocomposites have exhibited great potential for providing...

Electroactive Thermoplastic Dielectric Elastomers as a New Generation Polymer Actuators