Analysis of Copper Reinforcement Effect on Epoxy-Based Shape Memory Polymer for Smart Actuators

With the advancement of technology, more and more research works are undergoing for the development of advanced materials. Recently, material research is focusing on shape memory polymers (SMPs). As SMPs are light weight and also have advantage of low processing cost, good shape recoverability and flexibility, they find their application in various fields ranging from biomedical, automobile, textile and electronics industries to space applications. SMPs are smart materials which regain their actual shape after being subjected to some external stimuli. Electrical stimulus is one of them which can be used in space applications such as in smart actuators and hinges to regain their actual shape. As polymers are non-conductive, electrically responsive SMPs can be fabricated by embedding conductive elements such as copper (Cu) in it. In this paper effect of copper reinforcement in epoxy-based SMP is investigated at different compositions.