Electro-activate styrene-based shape memory polymer nanocomposite filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The fabrication and characterization, especially mechanical and electrical properties, of styrene-based shape memory polymer mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are presented in this paper. It is found that surface-modified MWNTs incorporated very well with resin processed by royal water, and dispersion was achieved by high-energy sonication in the solution. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is shown that the particulate additives were dispersed homogeneously within matrix and served as local conductive paths. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composite containing MWNTs is lower than that of the pure SMP obtained from Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). With the increasing filler content, resulting in the reduction of Tg increases. The composites have a better thermodynamic stability awarding to the results of Thermal Gravity Analyzer (TGA). The vibration of MWNTs in composite system was obtained from Raman spectrums. For the mechanical property of SMP composite with 8 wt% MWNTs, its Young's modulus increases by 12.1% and the tensile strength by 8.1% as compared with that of the pure SMP. Four-point Van De Pauw method is introduced to investigate the electrical property of composites. An electrical conductivity of 1.25×10^-3 S/cm is obtained for 8 wt% MWNTs composite.