Carbon fillers for actuation of electroactive thermoset shape memory polyurethane composites by resistive heating
Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The shape memory polymer (SMP) is one type of smart material with shape\nmemory effect. SMP’s recovery can be actuated by external energy, such as heat.\nHowever, traditional direct heating limits potential applications of the SMP device.\nThus, focusing on stimuli-responsive SMPs enables researchers to develop more\nversatile devices with SMP composites. The electroactive SMP composites incorporated\nwith conductive fillers such as carbon black and carbon nanotubes allow shape recovery\nactuation by electrical resistive heating. Until now, most developments in electroactive\nSMPs are based on the use of a thermoplastic matrix doped with conductive fillers. Only\nlimited reports have been made of thermoset polymers as the matrix used to synthesize\nan electroactive SMP composite.\n\nIn this study, thermoset SMP composites with loading carbon black and carbon\nnanotube are made and characterized by evaluating thermomechanical behavior,\nmeasuring electrical resistivity and percolation threshold, coating with water-resistant\nmembrane, and actuating the device with resistive heating. The electrical conductivity of\nthermoset SMP composites will be investigated so that a voltage-triggered or resistive-heat-\ntriggered shape memory polymer for applications where a self-actuated polymer is\nnecessary. The development of electroactive SMP composites makes this research\nadvantageous for electrical resistive heating of device design in minimally invasive\nsurgery application.
Author: Ya-Jen Yu
Language: English
Subfield: Polymers and Plastics
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2592594469