Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Shape Memory Polymers Programmed below Glass Transition Temperature

An epoxy-based shape memory polymer (SMP) is synthesized and examined for its deterioration in shape fixity due to springback and isothermal viscoelastic recovery at different ambient temperatures. Shape fixity depends not only on material properties but also on programming conditions. A constitutive finite deformation model is incorporated to predict the behavior of the proposed SMP and find maximum shape fixity. A programming approach is followed in which, in contrast to hot programming, the SMPs are neither heated before deformation nor cooled afterward but are deformed at ambient temperature and then stress-relaxed. The proximity of the programming temperature to the glass transition temperature plays a crucial role in determining the shape fixity of SMP. It has been found that the SMP with a glass transition temperature of 42.9 °C can achieve maximum shape fixity of 92.25% when programmed at 23 °C with 100 min stress relaxation time. Thermal contraction and dynamic tests are performed in the Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) to determine structural relaxation properties and distinguish the programming temperature in the cold, warm or hot temperature zone. The shape memory tests are carried out using temperature-controlled UTM to determine the shape fixity and shape recovery of SMP. The SMPs are subjected to a full thermomechanical cycle with different stress relaxation times and programming temperatures.