Synergic effect of carbon black and short carbon fiber on shape memory polymer actuation by electricity

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the effect of carbon black (CB) and short carbon fibers (SCFs) on shape memory polymer (SMP) actuation by applying electric current. The coexistence of CB and SCF electrically conductive networks, supporting each other, resulting in significant improvement of electrical properties, was supported by optical microscopy, while the roles of particulate and fibrous fillers were distinguished by scanning electron microscopy. In sequence, the volume resistivity curves of one filler systems and two fillers systems were figured out and compared. Moreover, experimental results substantiated that the actuation voltage of two-filler SMP composites’ shape recovery was prominently lower in comparison with that of one-filler systems at the same filler content. Additional, the response of glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermomechanical properties to filler content and two fillers’ synergic effect were characterized and illuminated experimentally.