LAUSR

A novel biodegradable magnetic-sensitive shape memory poly(ɛ-caprolactone) nanocomposites, which were crosslinked with functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), were synthesized via in situ polymerization method. Fe3O4 MNPs pretreated with γ-(methacryloyloxy) propyl trimethoxy silane (KH570) were used as crosslinking agents. Because of the crosslinking of functionalized Fe3O4 MNPs with poly(ɛ-caprolactone) prepolymer, the properties of the nanocomposites with different content of functionalized Fe3O4 MNPs, especially the mechanical properties, were significantly improved. The nanocomposites also showed excellent shape memory properties in both 60 °C hot water and alternating magnetic field (f = 60, 90 kHz, H = 38.7, 59.8 kA m−1). In hot water bath, all the samples had shape recovery rate (Rr) higher than 98% and shape fixed rate (Rf) nearly 100%. In alternating magnetic field, the Rr of composites was over 85% with the highest at 95.3%. In addition, the nanocomposites also have good biodegradability. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45652.