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A Fabrication Method for Highly Stretchable Conductors with Silver Nanowires
Published on: January 21, 2016
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Fabricating fast triggered electro-active shape memory graphite/silver nanowires/epoxy resin composite from polymer
Jie Zhou1, Hua Li2,3, Ran Tian1
1State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Scientific Reports
|July 19, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed a novel shape-memory polymer composite using graphite, silver nanowires, and epoxy resin. This material exhibits fast shape recovery and excellent conductivity, opening doors for advanced engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) are gaining attention for their unique properties.
- Potential applications exist in various engineering fields.
- Developing advanced composites with enhanced functionalities is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a novel polymer-template-assisted assembly strategy for fabricating a graphite/silver nanowires/epoxy resin (PGSE) composite.
- To investigate the electrical and thermal properties of the fabricated composite.
- To assess the shape-memory behavior of the PGSE composite.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a polymer-template-assisted assembly manufacturing strategy.
- Employed porous polymer foams as a skeleton for a 3D graphite structure.
- Incorporated silver nanowires to form a continuous conductive network.
- Fabricated the composite via vacuum infusion.
Main Results:
- The PGSE composite demonstrated high electrical conductivity.
- Excellent thermal stability was observed in the hybrid foams.
- The composite exhibited rapid shape recovery within 60 seconds under an electric field (0.8 V mm⁻¹).
Conclusions:
- The developed PGSE composite offers a promising solution for advanced engineering applications.
- The manufacturing process is fast, utilizes readily available materials, and allows for shape control.
- The combination of electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and shape-memory effect makes this composite highly versatile.
