Special Issues

Shape Memory Polymers

Submission Deadline: 30 March 2027 View: 723 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editor(s)

Assist. Prof. Honggeng Li

Email: lihonggeng@gbu.edu.cn

Affiliation: School of Advanced Engineering, Great Bay University (GBU), Dongguan, China

Homepage:

Research Interests: shape memory polymer, 4D printing

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Assoc. Prof. Biao Zhang

Email: iambzhang@nwpu.edu.cn

Affiliation: Northwestern Polytech Univ, Res & Dev Inst Northwestern Polytech Univ Shenzhe, Xian Inst Flexible Elect IFE, Frontiers Sci Ctr Flexible Elect FSCFE, China

Homepage:

Research Interests: 3D/4D printing, sustainable polymer materials, hydrogels, elastomers, flexible electronics   

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Assoc. Prof. Yuanfang Zhang

Email: zhangyuanfang @ scut.edu.cn                          

Affiliation: Shien-Ming Wu School of Intelligent Engineering, South China University of Technology, China

Homepage:

Research Interest: 3D/4D printing of advanced materials, smart materials and structures, soft robotics, flexible electronics

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Summary

Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs) are a remarkable class of stimuli-responsive materials capable of programmable shape changes, positioning them at the forefront of smart material innovation.

 
Their transformative potential spans biomedical devices, soft robotics, 4D printing, and adaptive systems.

This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research and reviews addressing key challenges—such as enhancing mechanical properties, enabling complex shape transitions, and refining actuation mechanisms—while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, materials scientists, and engineers.

 
Topics of interest include novel SMP design and synthesis, 4D printing, mechanistic studies and modeling, multifunctional SMPs, and emerging applications in biomedicine, soft actuators, and aerospace. We welcome original contributions that push the boundaries of SMP science and technology.


Keywords

shape memory polymer, 4d printing, multifunctional smps, soft actuators

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    A Highly Deformable, Low-Viscosity Photocurable Shape Memory Polymer Enabling Digital Light Processing-Based 4D Printing with Thermal-Magnetic Multi-Responsive Actuation

    Yuxuan Qin, Shouyi Yu, Yunlong Guo, Ang Chu, Yilin Liu, Qi Ge, Biao Zhang
    Journal of Polymer Materials, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2026.086549
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Shape Memory Polymers)
    Abstract 4D printing relies on smart materials capable of controlled deformation upon external stimuli. Existing photocurable shape memory polymers (SMPs) suffer from high viscosity, single (thermal) responsiveness, and insufficient deformability, which limit their applications. Herein, we report a low-viscosity, UV-curable SMP resin composed of tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate, acryloylmorpholine as monomers and aromatic urethane dimethacrylate as crosslinker (TIA-AUD), with large deformability, tailor-made for digital light processing (DLP)-based 4D printing. We designed and synthesized a high-molecular-weight polyurethane based crosslinker with excellent properties. Through synergistic regulation of multiple reactive diluents to optimize resin performance, the material achieves outstanding… More >

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