CO-CONTINUOUS POLYMER COMPOSITES WITH ENHANCED MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE AND MULTI-FUNCTIONAL APPLICATIONS

摘要

Co-continuous structured composite. The composite material includes a continuous material phase in intimate contact with a continuous second phase. A preferred embodiment has a continuous glassy polymer and a continuous elastomeric polymer; or a shape memory polymer phased together with an elastomeric phase. The composite of the invention has a combination of improved mechanical properties such as a unique combination of stiffness, strength and energy absorption, damage tolerance, multiple time constant viscoelastic and viscoplastic behaviors, and shape memory characteristics.