Clay montmorillonite-poly(e-caprolactone) electrospun microfiber/epoxy composites with triple shape memory effect
Abstract
Purpose
Epoxy (EP) and polye-caprolactone (PCL) are typical dual-shape memory polymer (DSMP). To get excellent triple-shape memory effect (TSME) polymer composites which are made from EP and PCL. Miscible PCL/EP blend composites have been investigated and compared to the TSMEs with electrospun PCL microfiber membranes/EP composites. Clay montmorillonite (MMT)-modified electrospun PCL microfiber membranes were prepared to improve the shape memory fixities of electrospun PCL microfiber membranes/EP composites.
Design/methodology/approach
The morphologies of electrospun PCL microfiber membranes and the cross section of PCL/EP composites were studied using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and the existence of MMT was confirmed by a transmission electron microscope. Thermal mechanical properties were observed by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and a dynamic thermomechanical analysis machine, and the TSMEs were also determined through dynamic mechanical analysis.
Findings
Results indicate that the TSMEs of electrospun PCL microfiber membranes/EP composites were excellent, whereas the TSMEs of PCL/EP blend composites were poor. The TSMEs of PCL electrospun microfiber membranes/EP composites significantly improved with the addition of the PCL electrospun microfiber modified with moderate MMT.
Research limitations/implications
Adding a moderate content of MMT into the electrospun PCL fibers, could improve the TSME of the PCL fiber membranes/EP composites. This study was to create a simple and effective method that can be applied to improve the performance of other SMP.
Originality/value
A novel triple-shape memory composite were made from dual-shape memory EP and electrospun PCL fiber membranes.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the support of the project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51473147), Key Program for International Science and Technology Cooperation Projects of Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2016YFE0125900), Science Foundation of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (ZSTU) (Grant No. 16012054-Y and 2015YBZX04) and Scientific and Technological Innovation Activity Plan of college students in Zhejiang Province (Xinmiao Talents Scheme) (Grant No. 2016R406025).
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Citation
Dong, Y., Qian, C., Lu, J. and Fu, Y. (2018), "Clay montmorillonite-poly(e-caprolactone) electrospun microfiber/epoxy composites with triple shape memory effect", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 47 No. 1, pp. 29-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-01-2017-0005
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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