Carbon Fillers for Actuation of Electroactive Thermoset Shape Memory Polyurethane Composites by Resistive Heating
Abstract
The shape memory polymer (SMP) is one type of smart material with shape
memory effect. SMP’s recovery can be actuated by external energy, such as heat.
However, traditional direct heating limits potential applications of the SMP device.
Thus, focusing on stimuli-responsive SMPs enables researchers to develop more
versatile devices with SMP composites. The electroactive SMP composites incorporated
with conductive fillers such as carbon black and carbon nanotubes allow shape recovery
actuation by electrical resistive heating. Until now, most developments in electroactive
SMPs are based on the use of a thermoplastic matrix doped with conductive fillers. Only
limited reports have been made of thermoset polymers as the matrix used to synthesize
an electroactive SMP composite.
In this study, thermoset SMP composites with loading carbon black and carbon
nanotube are made and characterized by evaluating thermomechanical behavior,
measuring electrical resistivity and percolation threshold, coating with water-resistant
membrane, and actuating the device with resistive heating. The electrical conductivity of
thermoset SMP composites will be investigated so that a voltage-triggered or resistive-heat-
triggered shape memory polymer for applications where a self-actuated polymer is
necessary. The development of electroactive SMP composites makes this research
advantageous for electrical resistive heating of device design in minimally invasive
surgery application.
Subject
thermosetcarbon black
carbon nanotube
polyurethane
shape memory polymer
electroactive shape memory polymer
resistive heating
silicone
glass transition temperature
Citation
Yu, Ya-Jen (2014). Carbon Fillers for Actuation of Electroactive Thermoset Shape Memory Polyurethane Composites by Resistive Heating. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A & M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /152617.