Shape memory polymer materials (SMP) are widely used and the industry development trend continues to improve.

​​​​ Shape memory polymer materials (SMP), also known as shape memory polymers, refer to new functional polymer materials that are a cross-combination of polymer materials and modified processing technology. SMP has the characteristics of both rubber and plastic. It is easy to process and form, has large deformation, is light in weight, and can be restored to its original shape. It is widely used in the textile industry, medical materials, engineering plastics, disposable sanitary products and other fields. According to different stimulation conditions, SMP can be divided into four types: chemical induction SMP, thermal SMP, photo-induced SMP and electro-induced SMP.

The main substrate of SMP is polymer materials, including polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, copolyester, polyisoprene, polyethylene, etc. Polymer materials, also known as polymer materials, have the advantages of large relative molecular weight, corrosion resistance, and good mechanical properties, and are widely used in the industrial field. SMP is produced by modifying polymer materials and combining molecules. Thermoforming, deformation, freezing deformation, and shape recovery are its main shape memory processes. Benefiting from the rising research enthusiasm in various countries around the world, the development speed of the SMP industry continues to accelerate.

​​​​Chemically induced SMP, thermal SMP, photo-induced SMP and electro-induced SMP are representative SMP products. Chemically induced SMP refers to smart materials that are modified by changes in the properties of the medium around polymer materials. It is widely used in high-tech fields such as chemical rocket engines; thermally induced SMP is widely used in medical equipment and sports equipment. ; Photo-induced SMP is a polymer that can deform under light conditions and can be used as optical recording materials, printing materials, etc.; Electro-induced SMP is conductive and has broad application prospects in the electronic and electrical fields.

According to the “2023-2027 Shape Memory Polymer Materials (SMP) Industry In-depth Market Research and Investment Strategy Suggestions Report》shows that SMP research originated in the 1950s. After years of development, it has been widely used in many fields such as the textile industry, medical materials, packaging materials, engineering plastics, and disposable sanitary products. In the field of medical materials, SMP has the advantages of good biocompatibility, light weight, and antibacterial, and can be used as implant materials, medical tissue sutures, etc.

Germany’s BASF AG (BASF), Germany’s Evonik Industries Group (EVONIK), Germany’s Covestro (Germany’s Covestro), Japan’s Kuraray Co., Ltd. (Kuraray), Japan’s Jion Corporation, France’s CDFChimie Company, etc. are world-renowned SMP manufacturers . In the late 1980s, Japan’s Kuraray took the lead in developing polyisoprene with shape memory function, laying the foundation for SMP industry research.

Industry analysts said that shape memory polymer materials (SMP), as a new smart material, have gained wide popularity in many fields due to their excellent performance. Application, with the gradual release of market demand, the future development trend of the industry will continue to improve. In recent years, many countries have laid out SMP R&D and production tracks. It is expected that the scope of SMP applications will be further expanded in the future.