An experiment of water-responsive shape memory hybrid

• Main Author: Ng, Ban Hoe.
• Other Authors: Huang Weimin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/54128
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

2 sets of 3 numbers of polymer sponge / polyethylene glycol hybrid (2cm by 2cm by 2cm) were fabricated with 25%, 50% and 75 % compression. External stimulus (room temperature water) was applied to the first set of 3 numbers of polymer sponge / polyethylene glycol hybrid of different compression ratio. It was observed that it took 10 minutes, 40 minutes and 60 minutes respectively for the 25%, 50% and 75% compression polymer sponge / polyethylene glycol hybrid to recover to their original cross sectional area (2cm by 2 cm). Another set of 3 numbers of different compressions (25%, 50% & 75%) was applied with external stimulus (using hammer to knock). It was observed that that it took 5 knocks, 8 knocks and 12 knock respectively for the 25%, 50% and 75% compression polymer sponge / polyethylene glycol hybrid of only 1 side of the cross sectional area to return to its original length (2 cm), while the other side of the cross section area of all the sample remained flat (0.5 cm). It was concluded that pure water were needed to dissolved the water / polyethylene glycol solution that was previous absorbed by the polymer sponge for the polymer sponge / polyethylene glycol hybrid to recover its original cross sectional shape. It was also concluded that indeed a non professional without much chemistry / polymer knowledge like myself were able to fabricate Shape memory hybrid (SMH).