Shape Memory behavior of nanocompositebased on thermoplastic polyurethane/polyvinyl chloride/carbon nano tube: The effect of functionalization

Recently, research interests have been focused onshape memory polymer (SMPs) including nano materials. In this study,nancomposite samples based on TPU/PVC/CNT were prepared via melt mixing. CNTs were functionalized withPoly caprolactone (PCL) using acid treatment. The occurrence of functionalization was confirmed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infra red(FTIR) and elemental analysis.Shape memory programming was based on glass transition temperature as switching point and conducted using tensile instrument equipped with hot oven. The switching temperatures were selected using DMTA analysis based on determined glass transition temperature. The results showed that two polymeric phases were miscible due to appearing one glass transition temperature in the samples. There was no effect on miscibility by incorporation of GNp. The performance of shape memory was measured using shape recovery and fixity. These indexes were enhanced by functionalization.

Keywords:

nanocomposite , TPU/PVC/CNT , shape memory , functionalization