Dolcera LLC Landscape Report On Shape Memory Polymer

About Shape Memory Polymer Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs) are polymer materials which may be returned from a deformed state to their original shape or "permanent configuration" via an external stimulus. The external stimulus is usually temperature, as in the case of thermally activated SMPs, but can also be the application of an electric or magnetic field, light or a change in pH. An SMP is an example of a smart material. Projected applications include self-adjusting orthodontic wires and selectively pliable tools for small scale surgical procedures where metal-based shape memory alloys such as Nitinol are widely used. Additional applications include self-repairing structural components, such as automobile fenders in which dents are repaired by application of heat.

About Shape Memory Polymer Shape memory polymers differ from shape memory alloys in that a glass transition from a hard to a soft phase is responsible for the effect rather than metallic Martensitic/Austenitic transitions. Polymers with shape memory have both a visible, current form and a stored, permanent form. Once the latter has been produced by conventional methods, the material is molded into a second, temporary form by skillful heating, deformation, and finally, cooling. The plastic maintains this shape until the permanent form is recalled by a predetermined external stimulus. The secret behind these materials lies in their molecular network structure, which contains meltable "switching segments." Raising the temperature activates the switching: the crystallized switching segments melt and the material resumes its original form. The materials are effectively visco-elastic and many models and analysis methods exist.

About Shape Memory Polymer After an undesired deformation, such as a dent in the fender, these plastics "remember" their original shape. Heating them both improves and activates their "memory." In this way, the dent could then be removed with a hair-dryer, for example. In this case, the important form is its undamaged original shape. The impact results in a temporary form, which changes back to the original form upon heating -- in effect, the plastic repairs itself. One of the first conceived industrial applications was in robotics where shape memory foams were used to provide initial soft prehension in gripping which could be subsequently hardened by cooling making a shape adaptive grip. Since then the materials have seen widespread usage in the building industry (foam which expands with warmth to seal window frames), sports wear (helmets, judo and karate suits) etc. and in some cases with thermochromic additives for ease of thermal profile observation

Patent Analysis Taxonomy

List Of Control Patents US A1 US A1 US A1 US A1 US A1 US A1

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Search History

New Search String S.No Searched Sections Years searc hed QueryHits 1 Full patent spec 1836 – Date (((shape ADJ1 memor*5) OR Shapememory OR memory OR memor*5 OR SMP*) Near10 (polymer OR polymer*5 OR homopolymer*1 OR copolymer*1 OR elastomer*1 OR oligomer*1 OR plastic OR dendrimer*1 OR resin*1)) Full patent spec 1836 – Date Hair OR keratin OR eyelash*1 OR eyebrow* Combined 1 AND 2 900

Search History Table for companies Vs patent families

Taxonomies Shape Memory Polymer-Main Taxonomy

Polymer Type

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IP Activity Top Assignee

IP ACTIVITY IP Activity

Patents related to SMP on hair with removal and Long lasting properties Patents related to SMP on Hair with Long lasting Properties

Patents related to SMP on hair with removal properties

Patents related to SMP on hair

Scientific Literature Database : Scirus Search Date Range : Search String : (("Shape memory polymer" OR "Shape memory polymers" OR "shape memory oligomer" OR " shape memory elastomer" OR " shapememory polymer")) No of Hits : 372 Dolcera patent dashboard for shape memory polymers

White Space Analysis - Eyelash Link to complete Eyelash matrixEyelash matrix

White Space Analysis - Skin

White Space Analysis - Fiber Link to complete Fiber matrixFiber matrix

White Space Analysis - Textile

White Space Analysis - Hair Link to complete Hair matrixHair matrix

White Space Analysis - Others

White Space Analysis - Keratin Link to complete Keratin matrixKeratin matrix

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Coating

Shape Deformation & Recovery

Memory

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Hair And SMP Technology

Long Lasting Hair Product – Concept Table

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Control Patents US US US US

Patents related to Hair and Shape Memory Polymers with Removal and Long lasting properties

Patents related to Hair and Shape Memory Polymers with Long lasting properties

IP Activity Top Assignee

IP Activity

Dolcera patent dashboard for shape memory polymers