Effect of Sidegroup on Mechanical Properties of Acrylate Networks for Biomedical Applications

The purpose of this study was to understand how the side group dictates thermo-mechanical properties of shape-memory acrylate networks, specifically strain to failure and toughness. A useful parameter in assessing shape memory polymers is the strain to failure because it is critical to know how much recovery strain the material can experience. To understand how the structure is related to mechanical properties, such as strain to failure, materials of differing chain stiffness ratio, C_∞, were compared at varying percentages of crosslinker. While the chemical and thermal properties of acrylate networks have been discussed in much detail, methods of toughening networks by the precise choice of certain acrylates have not been thoroughly examined. In order for these networks to be of practical use as biomedical devices, such as minimally invasive shape memory polymer stents, detailed structure-property relationships must be established.