Constitutive model for epoxy shape memory polymer with regulable phase transition temperature

Abstract

ABSTRACT The epoxy shape memory polymer (SMP) with adjustable phase transition temperature is a kind of high-performance shape memory polymer, which can change its phase transition temperature and improve its mechanical properties through the process of photo curing. An epoxy SMP constitutive model combining phase transition and viscoelasticity is established by discretizing the epoxy SMP into several glass phase units and rubbery phase units in this paper. The model includes the viscoelastic constitutive equations of glass phase units and rubber phase units, the parameter expression during shape memory process, and material parameter equation during photocuring process. And the stress relaxation behavior of epoxy SMP at different temperatures and the change of material parameters during the photo-curing process are simulated numerically, and the simulation results perform consistency with the experimental data. The model can not only relate shape memory effect and phase transformation in physics but also better characterize the viscoelastic properties of SMP and predict the shape memory response of SMP.