• Iorio, Leandro
• Dong, Hanshan
• Zhang, Zhenxue
• Charitidis, Costas A.
• Konstantopoulos, Georgios
• Bellisario, Denise
• Quadrini, Fabrizio
• Santo, Loredana
• Semitekolos, Dionisis
• Li, Xiaoying

Abstract

<p>For the first time, microscopic testing has been performed on shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) which were manufactured by commercial materials already used in aerospace. Results from micro-tests have been compared with those from conventional memory-recovery cycling on macro-scale. Two shape memory polymer composite (SMPC) laminates were fabricated with different shape memory (SM) interlayer: one in the form of an uncured epoxy powder and the other in the form of a thin epoxy foam. The latter, in particular has been studied to evaluate lightweight and stiff sandwich structures with SM properties. The assessment of the manufacturing process by a hot press moulding technique was assessed through micro scale analysis using SEM and MicroCT analysis. DMA analyses were carried out to understand the interaction mechanisms between raw constituents. A Vickers micro-indentation examination before and after heating was able to assess the shape recovery behaviour at the micro-scale level. A nano-instrumental indentation was used to characterise the shape memory response under different loads at elevated temperatures. Whilst an instrumented thermo-mechanical test allowed to investigate the shape memory behaviour at macro-scale level. Results allow identifying the recovery mechanisms at the micro-scale which are responsible for the shape memory performances at the macro-scale. The higher recovery ability of the SM foam is confirmed in comparison with bulk interlayers.</p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• polymer
• Carbon
• scanning electron microscopy
• composite