Linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape, and method of using thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a linear or substantially linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape including a first elastomeric component having a cross-sectional area of at least greater or lower than approximately 50 percent of the filament, fiber, or tape, and having a glass transition temperature of approximately −125 degrees to −10 degrees Celsius; and a second shape-memory polymeric component having a cross-sectional area of at least lower or greater than approximately 50 percent and being selected from one or more of a thermoplastic polyester-based or polyether based shape memory polyurethane. The second shape-memory polymeric component is positioned within the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape, such that a region of the second shape-memory polymeric component is asymmetrically disposed with respect to a central core of the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape. The second shape-memory polymeric component has a selectively engineered shape recovery temperature Tr between approximately 25° C. and 90° C.

1 . A linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape comprising:
 a first elastomeric component having a cross-sectional area of at least greater than approximately 50 percent of the filament, fiber, or tape, and having a glass transition temperature of approximately −125 degrees to −10 degrees Celsius;   a second shape-memory polymeric component having a cross-sectional area of at least lower than approximately 50 percent and being selected from one or more of a thermoplastic polyester-based or polyether based shape memory polyurethane, wherein said polyester based polymer comprises a polycaprolactone-based polymer,   wherein the second shape-memory polymeric component is positioned within the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape, such that a region of the second shape-memory polymeric component is asymmetrically disposed with respect to a central core of the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape, and   wherein the shape memory polymer has a selectively engineered shape recovery temperature T r  between approximately 25° C. and 90° C.   wherein the first elastomeric component is more elastic than that of the second shape-memory polymeric component at or lower than the selectively engineered shape recovery temperature.   
     
     
         2 . A linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape comprising:
 a first elastomeric component having a cross-sectional area of at least lower than approximately 50 percent of the filament, fiber, or tape, and having a glass transition temperature of approximately −125 degrees to −10 degrees Celsius;   a second shape-memory polymeric component having a cross-sectional area of at least greater than approximately 50 percent and being selected from one or more of a thermoplastic polyester-based or polyether based shape memory polyurethane, wherein said polyester based polymer comprises a polycaprolactone-based polymer,   wherein the second shape-memory polymeric component is positioned within the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape, such that a region of the second shape-memory polymeric component is asymmetrically disposed with respect to a central core of the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape, and   wherein the shape memory polymer has a selectively engineered shape recovery temperature T r  between approximately 25° C. and 90° C.   wherein the first elastomeric component is more elastic than that of the second shape-memory polymeric component at or lower than the selectively engineered shape recovery temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 1 , wherein the filament, fiber, or tape is configured to assume a substantially helical configuration upon elongation of approximately 50% to approximately 300%, with the coil number per centimeter increasing with the increase of the elongation percentage or the time period of elongation. 
     
     
         4 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 2 , wherein the filament, fiber, or tape is configured to assume a substantially helical configuration upon elongation of approximately 50% to approximately 300%, with the coil number per centimeter increasing with the increase of the elongation percentage or the time period of elongation. 
     
     
         5 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 1 , wherein the filament, fiber, or tape is configured to assume a substantially helical configuration upon elongation of approximately 50% to approximately 300%, wherein the coil diameter is from 0.5 to 7 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 2 , wherein the filament, fiber, or tape is configured to assume a substantially helical configuration upon elongation of approximately 50% to approximately 300%, wherein the coil diameter is from 0.5 to 7 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 1 , wherein the filament, fiber, or tape is configured to assume a substantially helical configuration upon elongation of approximately 50% to approximately 300%, wherein number of the turns per cm is from 7 to 32. 
     
     
         8 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 2 , wherein the filament, fiber, or tape is configured to assume a substantially helical configuration upon elongation of approximately 50% to approximately 300%, wherein the number of turns per cm is from 7 to 32. 
     
     
         9 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 1 , wherein the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape resumes a substantially linear shape upon heating to the selectively engineered shape recovery temperature T r . 
     
     
         10 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 2 , wherein the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape resumes a substantially linear shape upon heating to the selectively engineered shape recovery temperature T r . 
     
     
         11 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory polymer is polycaprolactone-based shape memory polymer with an average molecular number of 10000. 
     
     
         12 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 2 , wherein the shape memory polymer is polycaprolactone-based shape memory polymer with an average molecular number of 10000. 
     
     
         13 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 1 , wherein the polycaprolactone-based shape memory polymer is polycaprolactone diol-based shape memory polymer having hard segments selected from 4,4′-Methylenebis(phenylisocyanate), 1,4-Butanediol or N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-isonicotinamide. 
     
     
         14 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 2 , wherein the polycaprolactone-based shape memory polymer is polycaprolactone diol-based shape memory polymer having hard segments selected from 4,4′-Methylenebis(phenylisocyanate), 1,4-Butanediol or N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-isonicotinamide. 
     
     
         15 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastomeric component is in a range of 10 to 90 wt. % of the total weight of the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape while the second shape-memory polymeric component is in a range of 90 to 10 wt. % of the total weight of the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape, wherein the weight ratio between the first elastomeric component and the second shape-memory polymeric component is 1-9:9-1 so long as the positioning of the first elastomeric component and the second shape-memory polymeric component with respect to the cross-sections along the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape remains asymmetrical. 
     
     
         16 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 2 , wherein the first elastomeric component is in a range of 10 to 90 wt. % of the total weight of the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape while the second shape-memory polymeric component is in a range of 90 to 10 wt. % of the total weight of the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape, wherein the weight ratio between the first elastomeric component and the second shape-memory polymeric component is 1-9:9-1 so long as the positioning of the first elastomeric component and the second shape-memory polymeric component with respect to the cross-sections along the bi-component filament, fiber, or tape remains asymmetrical. 
     
     
         17 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastomeric component comprises one or more of polyester and polyether-based polyurethanes. 
     
     
         18 . The linear bi-component filament, fiber, or tape of  claim 2 , wherein the first elastomeric component comprises one or more of polyester and polyether-based polyurethanes.