Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Application of Thermoplastic Semicrystalline Shape Memory Polyurethanes

The state of the art of materials science in the field of synthesis of promising functional thermoelastoplasts based on polyurethanes and poly(urethane ureas) is analyzed. Interest in these materials has remained high during the past two decades owing to the ease of production, biocompatibility, good thermal and mechanical characteristics, and the possibility to adjust properties to a specific application. The main focus is on describing semicrystalline polyurethanes, in which crystalline domains play the role of a temporary physical network, which provides an opportunity to design adaptive materials with the shape memory effect. The described materials are divided according to the types of external stimuli which are switches of mechanical properties. The effect of the nature and composition of thermoresponsive polyurethanes on the mechanical properties and main characteristics of the shape memory effect is considered. Recent achievements in the synthesis, modification, and characterization of polyurethane materials are discussed, and the most interesting examples of their application in medicine are presented.