Infrared Laser-Activated Shape Memory Actuators

This paper is concerned about the drive of shape memory styrene copolymer through an infrared optical fiber carrying infrared laser. As one of novel actuators in smart materials, shape memory polymers (SMP) have been investigated widely. The infrared laser was chose to drive the SMP through the optical fiber embedded into the SMP. The working frequency of infrared laser was installed in 3–4μm, the working band of optical fiber was 1–6μm. An optical fiber was embedded into the SMP for delivery of 3–4μm laser light for activation. The surface of the optical fiber was etched by the aqueous solution of sodium-hydroxide in order to increase transmission efficiency of the optical fiber. The SMP based on styrene copolymer have been synthesized, the SMP was thermoset, and its T_g was the 53.7°C. The thermally activated SMP is possible to initiate an originally shape by a touch less and highly selective infrared laser stimulus. The optical fiber was treated by the aqueous solution of sodium-hydroxide, transmission efficiency of the optical fiber increased, and the total contact area between SMP and the optical fiber. The infrared laser stimulation of SMP is interest for sensor and actuator systems as well as medical applications.