Facile fabrication of bio-based Eucommia Ulmoides rubber shape memory foams

Abstract

The study of Eucommia ulmoides rubber (EUR) has received increasing attention in the past few years. In this manuscript, we prepared a series of novel Eucommia ulmoides rubber foams with excellent shape memory behavior. We studied the mechanical, thermal and shape memory properties of foamed composites and attempted to establish the relationship between microstructure and macroscopic properties. The results showed that the mechanical properties increased greatly from 4.1 MPa to 7.8 MPa with the increase of cross-linking agent. However, the shape memory properties of foamed composites were closely related to the crosslinking degree. In these EUR foams, the cross-linked network worked as a fixed phase, while the crystalline regions acted as a reversible phase in the shape memory behavior.