News Materials Science

Shape shifter

By Alexandra Goho

- More than 2 years ago

Scientists have created polymer rods that, even after being grossly deformed, will revert toward their original shape when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.

PLASTIC REVIVAL. An 8-centimeter rod of shape-memory polymer (top) is molded into a spiral (middle) and almost recovers its original shape after exposure to UV light (bottom). GKSS Research Center

Andreas Lendlein at GKSS Research Center in Teltow, Germany, and his colleagues bestowed this shape-memory property on a polymer blend by adding photosensitive molecules.