Durability of switchable QR code carriers under hydrolytic and photolytic conditions

Following a guest diffusion approach, the surface of a shape memory poly(ester urethane) (PEU) was either black or blue colored. Bowtie-shaped quick response (QR) code carriers were then obtained from laser engraving and cutting, before thermo-mechanical functionalization (programming) was applied to stabilize the PEU in a thermo-responsive (switchable) state. The stability of the dye within the polymer surface and long-term functionality of the polymer were investigated against UVA and hydrolytic ageing. Spectrophotometric investigations verified UVA ageing-related color shifts from black to yellow-brownish and blue to petrol-greenish whereas hydrolytically aged samples changed from black to greenish and blue to light blue. In the case of UVA ageing, color changes were accompanied by dye decolorization, whereas hydrolytic ageing led to contrast declines due to dye diffusion. The Michelson contrast could be identified as an effective tool to follow ageing-related contrast changes between surface-dyed and laser-ablated (undyed) polymer regions. As soon as the Michelson contrast fell below a crucial value of 0.1 due to ageing, the QR code was no longer decipherable with a scanning device. Remarkably, the PEU information carrier base material could even then be adequately fixed and recovered. Hence, the surface contrast turned out to be the decisive parameter for QR code carrier applicability.

[1]  Yanju Liu,et al.  Shape-memory polymers and their composites: Stimulus methods and applications , 2011 .

[2]  Patrick T. Mather,et al.  Review of progress in shape-memory polymers , 2007 .

[3]  I. Rousseau.  Challenges of Shape Memory Polymers : A Review of the Progress Toward Overcoming SMP's Limitations , 2008 .

[4]  Thorsten Pretsch,et al.  Durability of a polymer with triple-shape properties , 2010 .

[5]  Thorsten Pretsch,et al.  Triple-shape properties of a thermoresponsive poly(ester urethane) , 2009 .

[6]  Mohsen Miraftab,et al.  Feasibility study of polyurethane shape-memory polymer actuators for pressure bandage application , 2012, Science and technology of advanced materials.

[7]  J. Brigham,et al.  A computational framework for the optimal design of morphing processes in locally activated smart material structures , 2012 .

[8]  Samuel Ibekwe,et al.  A review of stimuli-responsive polymers for smart textile applications , 2012 .

[9]  Thorsten Pretsch,et al.  Hydrolytic degradation and functional stability of a segmented shape memory poly(ester urethane) , 2009 .

[10]  Thorsten Pretsch,et al.  Hydrolytic aging of crystallizable shape memory poly(ester urethane): Effects on the thermo-mechanical properties and visco-elastic modeling , 2010 .

[11]  E. Kober,et al.  Effects of hydrolysis-induced molecular weight changes on the phase separation of a polyester polyurethane , 2006 .

[12]  M. Bravar,et al.  Ultraviolet Degradation of Polyester-Based Polyurethane , 1983 .

[13]  L. Strekowski,.  Heterocyclic Polymethine Dyes , 2008 .

[14]  Ben Dietsch,et al.  A review - : Features and benefits of shape memory polymers (SMPs) , 2007 .

[15]  M. Maskos,et al.  Switchable information carriers based on shape memory polymer , 2012 .

[16]  W. Huang,et al.  Stimulus-responsive shape memory materials: A review , 2012 .

[17]  C. H. Giles,et al.  Some Observations on the Kinetics of Dye Fading , 1968 .

[18]  Wei Min Huang,et al.  Poly(methyl methacrylate) for active disassembly , 2012 .

[19]  Marc Behl,et al.  Recent Trends in the Chemistry of Shape‐Memory Polymers , 2013 .

[20]  C. S. Schollenberger,et al.  Thermoplastic Polyurethane Hydrolysis Stability , 1971 .

[21]  D. F. Duxbury.  The photochemistry and photophysics of triphenylmethane dyes in solid and liquid media , 1993 .

[22]  A. Fernández-Alba,et al.  Photodegradation of malachite green under natural sunlight irradiation: kinetic and toxicity of the transformation products. , 2008, Chemosphere.

[23]  K. Zia,et al.  Structural characteristics of UV‐irradiated polyurethane elastomers extended with α,ω‐alkane diols , 2009 .