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%.
Shape Memory Composites for Self-deployable Structures in Aerospace Applications