Thermal-mechanical properties of polyurethane-clay shape memory polymer nanocomposites

Ben Xu, Yong Qing Fu, Wei Min Huang, Yu Tao Pei, Zhen Guo Chen, Jeff de Hosson, Arno Kraft, Robert Reuben

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    42 Citations (Scopus)
    31 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Shape memory nanocomposites of polyurethane (PU)-clay were fabricated by melt mixing of PU and nano-clay. Based on nano-indentation and microhardness tests, the strength of the nanocomposites increased dramatically as a function of clay content, which is attributed to the enhanced nanoclay–polymer interactions. Thermal mechanical experiments demonstrated good mechanical and shape memory effects of the nanocomposites. Full shape memory recovery was displayed by both the pure PU and PU-clay nanocomposites.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)31-39
    JournalPolymers
    Volume2
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 26 Apr 2010

    Keywords

    • shape memory
    • nanocomposites
    • polyurethane
    • nano-clay
    • Vickers indentation
    • microhardness

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