In-plane deformation of shape memory polymer sheets programmed using only scissors

This paper describes an unconventional, yet simple method to program sheets of shape memory polymer into a variety of two dimensional (2D) structures. The final shape is “encoded” by physically cutting an initial design out of a pre-strained film. The orientation of the initial cut-out relative to the direction of strain and the subsequent relaxation of strain via heating defines the final shape. The appeal of the approach described here is that an easy, low-cost cutting method can achieve a similar shape memory effect attained by more complex processing techniques. Unlike conventional methods, where the final shape of a shape memory polymer must be defined a priori, the direction of cutting of the polymer defines its final shape without any complex pre-programmed strain profiles. A geometric model relating the resolved 2D polymer shape to the initial shape and strain orientation reveals linear correlation between the model-predicted and experimentally-observed shapes. In addition to demonstrating the principle with simple rectangular shapes, we suggest geometries related to encryption and high aspect ratio fibers.