Self-sensing shape memory polymer composites reinforced with functional textiles

Abstract

In this work, thermally reduced graphene oxide coated glass fabric (TRGO-GF) was used as a sensing element and reinforcement to manufacture thermo-responsive polyurethane-based self-sensing shape memory polymer composite (SSMPC). It was demonstrated that the proposed novel functional SSMPC was able to detect changes in temperature and shape recovery at the same time, providing its utility in a number of applications. The temperature sensing capability and the relationship between temperature and electrical resistance of manufactured SSMPC was demonstrated by inducing heating and cooling cycles using a heating film attached to the sample. It was shown that the proposed SSMPC was able to detect any changes in temperature taking place within the composite. The SSMPC showed a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) of resistance of −14.80 × 10−3 (°C)−1 and −7.25 × 10−3 (°C)−1 for testing regime I (30–40 °C) and testing regime II (40–50 °C) respectively. It was demonstrated through experiments that the SSMPC was able to detect the recovery ratio and rate of recovery during the thermally induced shape recovery process. It was also revealed that the extent and rate of shape recovery can be manipulated via controlling the thermal stimulus.