Abstract
Shape memory composites of trans-1,4-polyisoprene (TPI) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with easily achievable transition temperatures were prepared by a simple physical blending method. Carbon black (CB) was introduced to improve the mechanical properties of the TPI/LDPE composites. The mechanical, cure, thermal and shape memory properties of the TPI/LDPE/CB composites were investigated in this study. In these composites, the crosslinked network generated in both the TPI and LDPE portions acted as a fixed domain, while the crystalline regions of the TPI and LDPE portions acted as a reversible domain in shape memory behavior. We found the mechanical properties of composites were promoted significantly with an increase of CB content, accompanied with the deterioration of shape memory properties of composites. When CB dosage was 5 parts per hundred of rubber composites (phr), best shape memory property of composites was obtained with a shape fixity ratio of 95.1% and a shape recovery ratio of 95.0%.
Highlights
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart stimuli responsive materials [1], which possess the capacity to fix temporary shapes and recover to their permanent shapes under external stimulus, such as moisture, heat, pH, light, electric and magnetic fields [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
We found that all mechanical performance indexes were improved notably by Carbon black (CB) incorporation
We found the addition of CB could improve the shape memory recovery ratio domains in composites
Summary
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart stimuli responsive materials [1], which possess the capacity to fix temporary shapes and recover to their permanent shapes under external stimulus, such as moisture, heat, pH, light, electric and magnetic fields [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Permanent shapes of SMPs were recovered when specimens were reheated above Ttrans , which was attributed to the entropic elasticity released from polymer matrix. Carbon black (CB) reinforced shape memory composites of TPI and low-density PE (LDPE) were prepared by a mechanical blending method. A schematic diagram was proposed to illustrate the shape memory behavior of the TPI/LDPE composites These kinds of composites are expected to be used as pipe connection materials, especially in heat shrinkable PE pipe connect parts
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