The reinforcement efficiency of carbon nanotubes/shape memory polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

Shape memory polymer (SMP) nanocomposites with an epoxy resin matrix and carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement were fabricated. These nanocomposites were deformed at different temperatures in the programming procedure, and their mechanical properties and shape memory effects (SMEs) were characterized. Experimental results showed that the shape fixity ratio and the shape recovery ratio were governed only by the deformation temperature, while the compressive performance and constrained recovery stress were governed by both the deformation temperature and CNT addition. When the nanocomposites were deformed at 25°C (<Tg), the compressive performance and constrained recovery stress were not improved by CNT. This CNT reinforcement efficiency became obvious at higher deformation temperatures, and it was higher for the nanocomposites deformed at 100°C (≈Tg) than at 150°C (>Tg). The temperature dependence of CNT reinforcement efficiency resulted from the temperature dependence of the interfacial load transfer behavior between the CNTs and the epoxy matrix.