An investigation on electro-induced shape memory performances of CE/EP/CB/SCF composites applied for deployable structure

The objective of this work is to investigate the thermomechanical, electrical, and shape-memory properties of bisphenol A-type cyanate ester (BACE)/polybutadiene epoxy (PBEP)/carbon black (CB) composite and assess its feasibility applied for deployable structure. Using a BACE/PBEP polymer as matrix and superconducting carbon black (CB) and short carbon fibers (SCFs) as reinforcing material, the shape memory composite was prepared by compression molding. The effects of CB and SCF content on the shape memory properties of the composites were investigated. The results demonstrate that the glass transition temperature (T_g) and the storage modulus of the composites increases as SCFs content increase. Because of the synergic effect of CB and SCFs, the shape memory composites exhibit excellent shape memory performance, and the shape recovery ratio is about 100%. With the increase in SCF content, the recovery time decreased, and the volume electrical resistivity of the composite could decrease by adding a small amount of SCFs. According to the above results, a shape memory polymer composite deployable structure was prepared.