title: Fast Triggering of Shape Memory Polymers using an Embedded Carbon Nanotube Sponge Network.
abstract: In this work, a 3-D porous carbon nanotube sponge (CNTS) was embedded within a shape memory polymer (SMPs) matrix. We demonstrate complete infiltration and filling of the SMPs into the CNTS by capillary force without any damage to the CNTS structure. With only ~0.2 wt% carbon nanotube loading, the glass transition temperature is increased by ~20 °C, indicating strong interaction between CNTS and the SMPs matrix. Further, we find that the uniform distribution of the carbon nanotubes in the nanocomposite results in high electrical conductivity, and thus highly effective electricity triggering capability. The carbon nanotube sponge shape memory polymer (CNTS/SMPs) nanocomposite could be triggered within ~10 seconds by the application of ~10 volts. Results from finite element simulations showed good agreement with the experimental results, and indicated that for our system the interface thermal energy loss does not have a significant effect on the heating rate of the polymer matrix.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic Institute. Wuhan 430023, P. R. China.|School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology. Harbin 150090, P. R. China.|Key Lab of Structures Dynamic Behavior and Control, (Harbin Institute of Technology), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150090, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Guoxiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic Institute. Wuhan 430023, P. R. China.|School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology. Harbin 150090, P. R. China.|Key Lab of Structures Dynamic Behavior and Control, (Harbin Institute of Technology), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150090, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic Institute. Wuhan 430023, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shuping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Lab of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xuchun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.affiliation: Centre for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hongqiu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Centre for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150080, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koratkar
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology. Harbin 150090, P. R. China.|Key Lab of Structures Dynamic Behavior and Control, (Harbin Institute of Technology), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150090, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong