Development of trans-1,4-polyisoprene shape-memory polymer composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes modified by polydopamine

Abstract

In this study, which was inspired by mussel-biomimetic bonding research, carbon nan-otubes (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 pho-toelectron 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 demon-strate that these modifications enhanced the interfacial interaction, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of TPI/CNTs@PDA composites while maintaining shape-memory performance.