Shape memory effects of molded flexible polyurethane foam

Abstract

Polyurethane flexible foam having shape memory effects has been synthesized from polyester polyol and 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) following the quasi-prepolymer method in the presence of water as the blowing agent, and the effect of the organometallic catalyst and the molecular weight of polyol has been studied. It was found that the closed cell content, foam density, rubbery modulus, compression set, and shape fixability increased with increasing amounts of organometallic catalyst and decreasing molecular weight of polyol, whereas the cell size showed the opposite tendency. On the other hand, the shape recoverability of the foam was over 99% regardless of the catalyst content and molecular weight of polyol.