Abstract
Shape memory polymer (SMP) nanocomposites with a fast electro-actuation speed were prepared by dispersing Cu-decorated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) (Cu-CNTs, 1 wt %, 2 wt %, and 3 wt %) in a polylactic acid (PLA)/epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) blend matrix. The shape memory effect (SME) induced by an electrical current was investigated by a fold-deploy “U”-shape bending test. In addition, the Cu-CNT dispersed PLA/ESO nanocomposite was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile and electrical measurements. The results demonstrated that the SME was dependent on the Cu-CNT content in the nanocomposites. When comparing the SMEs of the nanocomposite specimens with different Cu-CNT contents, the 2 wt % Cu-CNT dispersed system exhibited a shape recovery as high as 98% within 35 s due to its higher electrical conductivity that results from uniform Cu-CNT dispersion. However, the nanocomposites that contained 1 wt % and 3 wt % Cu-CNTs required 75 s and 63 s, respectively, to reach a maximum recovery level. In addition, the specimens exhibited better mechanical properties after the addition of Cu-CNTs.
Highlights
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) and their nanocomposites belong to a class of smart materials known for their ability to return from a deformed state to their original shape upon exposure to an external stimulus [1–8]
The compact and dense surface of the nanocomposite with 2 wt % Cu-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was due to the uniform dispersion of CNTs, which resulted in a greater matrix-filler interfacial area and an enhanced matrix-CNT interface contact
The results indicated that the 2 wt % filled SMP nanocomposite exhibited a prompt shape recovery response due to more efficient and fast heat conduction through the nanocomposite, and this nanocomposite recovered its original shape within 35 s (Figure 3)
Summary
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) and their nanocomposites belong to a class of smart materials known for their ability to return from a deformed state (temporary shape) to their original (permanent) shape upon exposure to an external stimulus [1–8]. Based on the types of stimulus applied to induce the shape memory effect (SME), the three main categories are as follows: thermo-active (heating sources include inductive heating, joule heating/electrical heating, and mechanical heating and light heating), photo-active (heating source include; irradiation with different wavelengths) and chemo-responsive (chemicals, such as water, and solvents) [21–23] Among these categories, the SMP nanocomposites whose SME is induced by joule heating using electricity have been at the forefront of SM materials science and technology research over the past decade [24–26]. Mohan et al investigated the polymer nanocomposite made of polyurethane (PU) and Ag and Cu decorated CNTs and reported the electrically resistive heating-driven shape-memory effect of the PU/M-CNTs nanocomposite system. In the investigation, they found that Ag and Cu decorated. The results of the prepared electroactive SMP nanocomposite are reported and discussed
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