Durability of shape memory polymer based syntactic foam under accelerated hydrolytic ageing

In this study, accelerated hydrolytic ageing of shape memory polymer (SMP) based syntactic foam after two-dimensional (2D) programming or training (compression in one direction and tension in the transverse direction) was investigated experimentally. Mechanical properties and shape recovery functionality of the aged foam were tested. The results indicate that the moisture absorption for original and programmed foams is less than 1% at room temperature for 90 days. The moisture absorption in saltwater is less than that in rainwater, and the original foam absorbs more moisture compared to the programmed foam. Hydrolytic aged foams exhibit a slight decrease in mechanical strength, and show an increase in ductility, regardless of the original or programmed foams. Water immersion also leads to lowering in glass transition temperature of the foam. Furthermore, the rainwater has a larger influence on the mechanical properties than the saltwater does. It is concluded that the foam basically maintains its shape recovery functionality after 2D programming and moisture attacks.

[1]  Jinsong Leng,et al.  Comment on “Water-driven programable polyurethane shape memory polymer: Demonstration and mechanism” [Appl. Phys. Lett. 86, 114105 (2005)] , 2008 .

[2]  A. Lendlein,et al.  Initiation of shape-memory effect by inductive heating of magnetic nanoparticles in thermoplastic polymers. , 2006, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[3]  N. Gimenez,et al.  Hydrolytic ageing of syntactic foams for thermal insulation in deep water: degradation mechanisms and water uptake model , 2006 .

[4]  R. Langer,et al.  Light-induced shape-memory polymers , 2005, Nature.

[5]  Guoqiang Li,et al.  A self-healing 3D woven fabric reinforced shape memory polymer composite for impact mitigation , 2010 .

[6]  M. Breese,et al.  Proton beam writing , 2007 .

[7]  C. R. Nair,et al.  Mechanical properties of polybenzoxazine syntactic foams , 2008 .

[8]  R. Vaia,et al.  Remotely actuated polymer nanocomposites—stress-recovery of carbon-nanotube-filled thermoplastic elastomers , 2004, Nature materials.

[9]  V. Sauvant-Moynot,et al.  Innovative processing and mechanical properties of high temperature syntactic foams based on a thermoplastic/thermoset matrix , 2003 .

[10]  Guoqiang Li,et al.  Shape memory polymer based self-healing syntactic foam: 3-D confined thermomechanical characterization , 2010 .

[11]  Guoqiang Li,et al.  Impact characterization of sandwich structures with an integrated orthogrid stiffened syntactic foam core , 2008 .

[12]  Dominique Choqueuse,et al.  Comprehensive analyses of syntactic foam behaviour in deepwater environment , 2009 .

[13]  Guoqiang Li,et al.  Isogrid stiffened syntactic foam cored sandwich structure under low velocity impact , 2010 .

[14]  Guoqiang Li,et al.  Thermomechanical characterization of a shape memory polymer based self-repairing syntactic foam , 2010 .

[15]  Wei Min Huang,et al.  Water-driven programmable polyurethane shape memory polymer: Demonstration and mechanism , 2005 .

[16]  C. S. Karthikeyan,et al.  Effect of Absorption in Aqueous and Hygrothermal Media on the Compressive Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Syntactic Foam , 2001 .

[17]  Fei Song,et al.  Chemical characteristics of precipitation at metropolitan Newark in the US East Coast. , 2009 .

[18]  A. Andrady,et al.  Weathering of polystyrene foam on exposure in air and in seawater , 1991 .

[19]  Dominique Choqueuse,et al.  Durability of Syntactic Foams for Deep Offshore Insulation: Modelling of Water Uptake under Representative Ageing Conditions in Order to Predict the Evolution of Buoyancy and Thermal Conductivity , 2009 .

[20]  Guoqiang Li,et al.  A self-healing smart syntactic foam under multiple impacts , 2008 .

[21]  N. Gupta,et al.  Hygrothermal studies on syntactic foams and compressive strength determination , 2003 .

[22]  P. Morshuis,et al.  The Investigation of the Permittivity of Syntactic Foam under varying Humidity , 2008, 2008 Annual Report Conference on Electrical Insulation and Dielectric Phenomena.

[23]  Guoqiang Li,et al.  Constitutive modeling of shape memory polymer based self-healing syntactic foam , 2010 .

[24]  Guoqiang Li,et al.  A biomimic shape memory polymer based self-healing particulate composite , 2010 .