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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Are Shape Memory Polymers "Plastic"?
Just a quick, semi-serious question to ponder: The word "plastic" means that something is moldable, that it can undergo a permanent change in shape. (This applies not just to polymers, but to metals and other materials as well. Blacksmiths specialized in the plastic deformation of iron). So consider shape-memory polymers, polymers that can be shaped but then when heated (or otherwise given energy) recover their original shape. Is it proper to call shape-memory polymers "plastic"? (1, 2 and 3.)
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1 comment:
I'd still call these shape memory polymers "plastic"; just stick a reference temperature along with that "plastic" characteristic and you are good.
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