Actuation of shape memory polymer composites triggered by electrical resistive heating

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (17) ◽  
pp. 2363-2371 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Sendil Murugan ◽  
Sandhya Rao ◽  
MC Chiranjeevi ◽  
A Revathi ◽  
Kavitha V Rao ◽  
...  

A shape memory polymer is capable of multifunctional performance, be it structural or non-structural. Several actuation mechanisms can be employed to trigger shape memory behaviour. Among these, thermal actuation is most comprehensively studied and applied due to its ease of understanding and utility. However, from the point of view of some niche applications, electrical actuation also needs to be examined. This is all the more relevant for modern aircraft where actuation is amenable to remote computer controls and advanced instrumentation. This in turn paves the way for realizing lightweight and adaptive aircraft structures. In this work, shape memory performance via electrical actuation of unidirectional carbon ply–epoxy shape memory polymer composites has been investigated using an in-house designed test set-up in the manual and automated modes. The synergistic role of carbon plies and the epoxy shape memory polymer matrix for realizing faster shape recovery has been observed. The effect of number of carbon plies on the cyclic shape memory performance of the shape memory polymer composite has also been evaluated. This work demonstrates the feasibility of developing efficient electrically actuated shape memory composites and their potential for different applications.

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Chuang Zhang ◽  
Long Li ◽  
Yuanhang Xin ◽  
Jiaqi You ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
...  

In this study, which was inspired by mussel-biomimetic bonding research, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were interfacially modified with polydopamine (PDA) to prepare a novel nano-filler (CNTs@PDA). The structure and properties of the CNTs@PDA were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The CNTs and the CNTs@PDA were used as nanofillers and melt-blended into trans-1,4 polyisoprene (TPI) to create shape-memory polymer composites. The thermal stability, mechanical properties, and shape-memory properties of the TPI/CNTs and TPI/CNTs@PDA composites were systematically studied. The results demonstrate that these modifications enhanced the interfacial interaction, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of TPI/CNTs@PDA composites while maintaining shape-memory performance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianning Ren ◽  
Guangming Zhu ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Xiao Hou

AbstractThe objective of this work is to investigate the thermomechanical, electrical, and shape-memory properties of bisphenol A-type cyanate ester (BACE)/polybutadiene epoxy (PBEP)/carbon black (CB) composite and assess its feasibility applied for deployable structure. Using a BACE/PBEP polymer as matrix and superconducting carbon black (CB) and short carbon fibers (SCFs) as reinforcing material, the shape memory composite was prepared by compression molding. The effects of CB and SCF content on the shape memory properties of the composites were investigated. The results demonstrate that the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the storage modulus of the composites increases as SCFs content increase. Because of the synergic effect of CB and SCFs, the shape memory composites exhibit excellent shape memory performance, and the shape recovery ratio is about 100%. With the increase in SCF content, the recovery time decreased, and the volume electrical resistivity of the composite could decrease by adding a small amount of SCFs. According to the above results, a shape memory polymer composite deployable structure was prepared.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1107
Author(s):  
Mijeong Kim ◽  
Seongeun Jang ◽  
Sungwoong Choi ◽  
Junghoon Yang ◽  
Jungpil Kim ◽  
...  

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are attracting attention for their use in wearable displays and biomedical materials due to their good biocompatibility and excellent moldability. SMPs also have the advantage of being lightweight with excellent shape recovery due to their low density. However, they have not yet been applied to a wide range of engineering fields because of their inferior physical properties as compared to those of shape memory alloys (SMAs). In this study, we attempt to find optimized shape memory polymer composites. We also investigate the shape memory performance and physical properties according to the filler type and amount of hardener. The shape memory composite was manufactured by adding nanocarbon materials of graphite and non-carbon additives of Cu. The shape-recovery mechanism was compared, according to the type and content of the filler. The shape fixation and recovery properties were analyzed, and the physical properties of the shape recovery composite were obtained through mechanical strength, thermal conductivity and differential scanning calorimetry analysis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 830-831 ◽  
pp. 529-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mohanakrishnan ◽  
M. Sureshkumar

Shape memory polymer composites (SMPC) are a new kind of smart materials where many researches have been carried out. In SMPC, shape memory polymers serves as a matrix material and particles or fibers act as reinforcements. As structural applications demand structures to withstand load and stiffness, particles reinforced SMPC does not serve for it. Therefore fiber/fabric reinforced SMPC used widely for such applications. SMPC’S changes its shape during a typical thermo-mechanical cycle and retracts to its original shape upon external stimulus (temperature). Molecular mechanism is the driving force of these SMP’s. SMP consists of 1.molecular switches and 2. netpoints. This project deals with Epoxy shape memory resin (Matrix material) and fabrics such as Glass, Kevlar and Carbon (Reinforcements).A Comparative analysis was carried out to find which combination gives the best results by bend test. Different orientations were tried for bidirectional fabrics such as (0/90)3, (0/45)3, ((0/90)/(±45)/(0/90)) specimens. Finally it was concluded that Carbon fabric which has the orientation of (0/90/±45/0/90) gives better shape memory performance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 08 (07) ◽  
pp. 1640009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengfeng Li ◽  
Liwu Liu ◽  
Xin Lan ◽  
Tong Wang ◽  
Xiangyu Li ◽  
...  

With large spatial deployable antennas used more widely, the stability of deployable antennas is attracting more attention. The form of the support structure is an important factor of the antenna’s natural frequency, which is essential to study to prevent the resonance. The deployable truss structures based on shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) have made themselves feasible for their unique properties such as highly reliable, low-cost, light weight, and self-deployment without complex mechanical devices compared with conventional deployable masts. This study offers deliverables as follows: an establishment of three-longeron beam and three-longeron truss finite element models by using ABAQUS; calculation of natural frequencies and vibration modes; parameter studies for influence on their dynamic properties; manufacture of a three-longeron truss based on SMPC, and modal test of the three-longeron truss. The results show that modal test and finite element simulation fit well.


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