Advance in Shape Memory Polymers for Aerospace Applications

As humanity's exploration of cosmic space becomes more and more in-depth, aerospace technology, as a critical cornerstone supporting this endeavor, is constantly facing new challenges and opportunities. Aerospace engineering has extremely stringent requirements for materials, which require high strength and toughness to withstand extreme environmental conditions, such as high temperature, low temperature, high radiation, etc., and meet the complex needs of lightweight, high reliability, and multi-functional integration. Traditional materials often face many limitations in meeting these requirements, and the emergence of shape memory polymers (SMPs) has provided new ideas and possibilities for the design and application of aerospace materials. As an emerging class of intelligent materials, SMPs, due to their unique shape memory effect, lightweight and high strength, good designability, and other characteristics have gradually demonstrated excellent application potential in several aspects of the aerospace field. Application potential in many aspects of the aerospace field. Based on this, this paper first explains the shape memory effect (SME). Then, SMPs under different actuation conditions are explored, including light, heat, electricity, and magnetic field stimulation conditions. Finally, the paper highlights the application of SMPs in wing deformation structures, space deployable structures, thermal protection systems, etc. This will provide new solutions for the lightweight and multifunctional design of spacecraft.