Thermal expanding behavior of carbon nanotube-shape memory polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

Coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of shape memory polymer (SMP) nanocomposites reinforced with randomly dispersed wavy carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is investigated using a unit cell-based micromechanical approach. The influences of temperature, volume fraction and waviness characteristics of the CNT, thickness, and adhesion exponent of the CNT/SMP interphase zone on the SMP nanocomposite CTE are extensively studied. A great reduction is observed in the nanocomposite CTE with the addition of the CNT to the SMP. Good agreement is observed between the results of the presented model considering randomly dispersed wavy CNTs into the polymer and existing experimental data. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.