Dual-curing vitrimeric composite with magnetically triggered remote shape memory and de-icing: functional performance and analytical modeling of ice detachment

Abstract Magnetic fields constitute an efficient, remote heating source with a wide range of potential applications. In this work, magnetic shape memory polymers (MSMPs) are developed by incorporating Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles into a dual-cure vitrimeric matrix based on a click thiol-epoxy reaction. This dual-curing approach enables the fabrication of a solid, easily transportable material with tunable thermomechanical properties, allowing subsequent thermoforming without the need for additional chemical processing, thereby reducing costs and complexity. Moreover, hydroxyl groups interact with ester groups to form dynamic covalent bonds through transesterification reactions. The influence of Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles on the thermomechanical properties, curing kinetics, and memory performance of the polymeric matrix is analyzed. Results show that Fe 2 O 3 enhances mechanical strength, increases thermal conductivity, and catalyzes reactions at low concentrations. The shape-memory properties are further improved by the addition of nanoparticles. By adjusting the Fe₂O₃ content, the composite achieves self-heating up to approximately 180 °C under an alternating magnetic field, making it highly effective for shape-memory activation. Furthermore, this study presents a proof-of-concept de-icing strategy employing a dual-curing polymeric system activated by magnetic induction, enabling rapid and contactless ice detachment with high thermal efficiency. Even at the lowest Fe₂O₃ concentration, the material reaches temperatures above 120 °C, sufficient to trigger both shape-memory recovery and de-icing within seconds. Finally, an analytical model is proposed to quantitatively describe the de-icing mechanism, establishing a correlation between the critical thickness of the melted water layer necessary for ice detachment and key physical parameters such as ice thickness, surface angle, and magnetic field strength. Graphical abstract