| Summary: | Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) is a type of “smart” material that possesses stimuli-responsive function with the ability to recover the original shape over a period of time, from a deformation upon triggering by an appropriate stimulus like temperature, light, chemical reaction, or other environmental stimuli. By incorporating it with Three-dimensional (3D) printing, it gives rise to a new technology which is Four-dimensional (4D) printing.
For discussion, the paper will be focusing on using 4D printing to produce a wrist support that uses Polylactic Acid (PLA) material. This would enhance the comfort fitting for a long duration of usage without causing any disturbances in the user’s daily life and retaining its ability to immobilize the supported area comparing it to other orthopaedic devices available in the market.
A few PLA printed prototypes have been created to test its material characteristic, feasibility, structure, comfort fitting level and structure strength once solidified.
Finally, the application prospects, existing technical restriction, continuous development directions of 4D printed shape memory polymers and their structures in the elastic shape memory material for instant fitting category are summarized.
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