Thermomechanical properties and deformation behavior of a unidirectional carbon-fiber-reinforced shape memory polymer composite laminate

摘要

A shape memory polymer (SMP) demonstrates large reversible deformation functionality upon exposure to heating stimuli. In this study, the thermomechanical properties and deformation behavior of a unidirectional carbon-fiber-reinforced SMP composite (SMPC) laminate were studied. The findings can be used as a basis to design angle-ply laminated plates, woven laminated plates, or special laminated structures used for space deployment. The fundamental static and dynamic mechanical properties of SMP and SMPC were characterized. The fiber-reinforced SMPC exhibited local postmicrobuckling behavior and obtained a high-reversible macroscale strain of 9.6%, which enabled the high-reversible deformation to be used for foldable structures in space. The state of critical failure of bending deformation was determined through microscale morphology observations and provided the upper limit in the design of SMPC structures. The evolution of the key shape memory properties (e.g., recovery speed and recovery ratio) during deformation cycles was characterized, and it offered the general recovery performance of a space deployable structure. (c) 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48532.