Thermoprogrammable Switching Section with Insulating Region
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shape memory bodies struggle to recall their original shape in environments with high thermal transfer coefficients, as the required switching temperature is difficult to attain due to limitations in the concentration of nanoparticles and the surface-to-volume ratio, which restricts the application in medical fields where energy coupling is limited.
Innovation Solution
A shape memory compound with embedded particles that heat up in an alternating electromagnetic field is surrounded by an isolating region with a lower thermal transfer coefficient, allowing for insulation and a higher temperature increase, enabling the compound to reach its critical switching temperature even in high thermal transfer coefficient environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If nanoparticles are embedded in shape memory polymer to enable heating via electromagnetic field, then the shape memory effect can be activated indirectly, but the concentration of nanoparticles is limited which restricts the maximum temperature achievable
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal insulating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the shape memory polymer core and the surrounding environment. This layer mediates the heat transfer process by reducing parasitic heat losses to the surroundings, thereby enabling the core to reach higher temperatures with the same nanoparticle concentration and electromagnetic field input.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal insulation layer changes the effective thermal transfer coefficient of the system. By reducing heat loss to the environment, the system can achieve higher core temperatures without increasing nanoparticle concentration or electromagnetic field strength, effectively altering the temperature achievement parameters.
2Temperature
If the surface-to-volume ratio is increased to improve heating efficiency, then temperature rise is enhanced, but this limits the applicability in medical fields where energy coupling is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulating layer acts as a mediator that decouples the heating efficiency from the surface-to-volume ratio constraint. By reducing heat loss, the system can achieve effective heating even with lower surface-to-volume ratios, making it suitable for medical applications where energy coupling is limited.
3Shape
If direct temperature action is used to activate shape memory effect, then the material returns to its permanent shape, but in high thermal transfer coefficient environments the required temperature is difficult to attain
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulating layer serves as a mediator that protects the shape memory polymer core from excessive heat loss to the high thermal transfer coefficient environment. This enables the core to reach and maintain the switching temperature necessary for shape transformation, despite the challenging thermal environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer changes the effective thermal environment of the shape memory polymer, reducing the thermal transfer coefficient between the polymer and the surrounding high-conductivity environment. This parameter change enables switching temperature attainment that would otherwise be impossible in the high-conductivity environment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively allows the shape memory compound to reach the necessary temperature for shape transformation in environments with high thermal transfer coefficients, enhancing its applicability in medical and other applications where direct heating is challenging.
Implementation Method 1
particles embedded in a shape memory polymer, which are adapted to heat up in an alternating electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 2
The electric eddy currents induced in electrically conducting particles in the EMF generate heat
Implementation Method 3
an isolating region surrounding the shape memory compound and having a thermal transfer coefficient h iso smaller than the thermal transfer coefficient h schalt of the shape memory compound
Implementation Method 4
Shape memory plastics can have a permanent original shape stored in addition to a visible temporary shape. By activating an external stimulus, for example a temperature increase, the permanent shape can be almost completely recalled
Implementation Method 5
the material returning to the stored permanent shape due to its entropy elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an article with at least one switching segment. The switching segment comprises a shape-memory compound and an isolating region surrounding the shape memory compound. The present invention also provides a method of producing such an article.