Synthesis of the multiphase shape memory hybrid composites hybridized with functionalized MWCNT to improve mechanical and interfacial properties

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the effect of carboxyl (-COOH) and amine (-NH2)-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (fMWCNT)-modified shape memory polymer carbon fiber-reinforced hybrid nanocomposites (SMPHC) on mechanical and interfacial properties. The fabrication process includes preparation of the SMPHC by magnetic stirring, shear mixing, ultrasonication, and subsequent molding by the hand layup method. Samples of SMPHC fabricated with different weight fractions of fMWCNT into a matrix were cured and cut into the required size to perform mechanical, thermomechanical, and shape memory characterization as per the ASTM standard. Using FTIR, traces of amino and carboxyl fMWCNT were confirmed. The rise in tensile modulus and tensile strength were noticed of SMPHC with 0.4 and 0.6 wt.% fMWCNT as compared to pristine CFRP and pure MWCNT. Thermomechanical properties of SMPHC were investigated through DMA from 30°C to 150°C to evaluate the effect of the variation of fMWCNT in the modified SMP matrix. FE-SEM images of tensile test-fractured samples show the nature of dispersion and interface formed into epoxy resin with different weight fractions of fMWCNT. Along with this, investigated the shape memory recovery bending angle of SMPHC for different weight fractions of fMWCNT. However, recovery in the shape for all configurations of SMPHC was not compromised, which remained almost unchanged at 96%.

KEYWORDS:

• SMPHC
• fMWCNT
• modified matrix
• shape memory effect
• tensile testing
• thermomechanical testing
• fractography

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. Prakash Shirsath, Institute of science, Nagpur (MH), India, for providing testing facility and guidance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).