Influence of CNT fillers on the thermal, mechanical and shape memory properties of TPI shape memory polymer composites

Abstract

TPI, also known as artificial eucommia rubber, is a thermo-responsive SMP created by molecular recombination and modification with contemporary polymer synthesis and modification techniques. In this paper, TPI shape memory polymer is reinforced with different weight proportions (0, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1%) of carbon nanotube (CNT) and specimens were fabricated with the aim of enhancing the properties of neat TPI polymer composites. Some thermo-mechanical characteristics were investigated and interpreted, including the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) test, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) test, thermal conductivity test, compression test, and a few shape memory properties such as shape recovery ratio and shape recovery rate. TPI shape memory polymers exhibit strong shape memory capabilities and the best mechanical properties based on the testing results for the specimen TPI with 0.8% CNT weight fraction.