Shape memory materials are becoming increasingly important in smart structure designs such as Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs). Among these materials shape memory polymer composites are gaining increasing importance due to their ability to offer high specific modulus and strength, easily tailorable properties, and high recovery stresses. Addition to the specifically designed shape memory polymers, it has been long known that many of the conventional polymers also exhibit shape memory effect. Understanding and utilizing the shape memory effect (SME) of these conventional polymers and their fiber composites may present great advantages. Shape memory effect of these materials can be activated upon application of a triggering mechanism, such as the increase of the temperature of the material. Although this can be done successfully in laboratory conditions by utilizing wellcontrolled environment, this presents greater challenges in real life applications. Hence, to be able to provide broader utilization of these materials, alternative activation systems need to be explored. This paper reports on self-activation of a conventional composite system by utilizing its carbon fiber reinforcements as heating elements to trigger the shape memory effect. The study was conducted using commercially available EPON 828 resin – EPICURE 3055 hardener system as the matrix and carbon fibers as reinforcements of the composite material. Glass transition temperature (activation temperature) of the polymer was determined using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) as a function of different hardener-to-resin ratios. A tensile testing machine and a customized three-point-bending test jig were used conduct the tests.
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