Fabrication and characterization of shape memory polymer composites

• Main Author: Fu, Wei Ming.
• Other Authors: Huang Weimin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Composite materials; DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Nanostructured materials
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39808
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This report presents a systematic study on the effects of the addition of carbon nanotubes to a shape memory polymer, polyurethane. It was found that the addition of nano-sized particles like carbon nanotubes can affect the physical characteristics of a polymer. Through the alignment of carbon nanotubes in polyurethane, thermo-mechanical properties like glass transition temperature can be significantly altered. The shape memory effect of polyurethane was also investigated after the addition of carbon nanotubes through two different experiments. It was demonstrated that shape memory effect can be activated by heating after the addition of carbon nanotubes. The reaction of the shape memory effect was affected by varying the carbon nanotube loading content. Keywords: Shape Memory Polymers, Shape Memory Effects, Polyurethane, Carbon nanotubes,