ABSTRACT
Shape Memory Polymer (SMP) is a class of smart materials with unique capability of remembering its shape. It can be restored from a temporary fixed shape to permanent shape upon exposure to an external stimulus like heat, light, magnetic field, moisture etc. As opposed to its widespread use in many engineering applications, low stiffness and strength has restricted its excessive usage in structural engineering field. This research focuses on manufacturing and characterizing SMP and its carbon fiber reinforced composite (SMPC). The material is thermo-mechanically characterized for its transition temperature (Tg) using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). Fold-deploy tests are conducted to determine shape fixity and shape recovery ratios. Additionally, the effect of temperature increase in recovery ratio is also investigated. Mechanical characterization is done via static uniaxial tensile tests. A substantial increase (100%) is observed in stiffness of SMPC compared to SMP. The samples are analysed for the effect of increasing shape memory cycles, which show that the major decline in stiffness essentially occurs after the first cycle. Similarly, on studying the effect of degree of deformation, the major decline in stiffness or increase in strength is found to occur after an angle of deformation of 45˚.
