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A new method to improve the stability, tensile strength, and heat resistant properties of shape‐memory epoxy resins: Two‐stages curing
Author(s) -
Sun He,
Liu Yuyan,
Tan Huifeng,
Du Xingwen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.39882
Subject(s) - curing (chemistry) , materials science , differential scanning calorimetry , composite material , ultimate tensile strength , epoxy , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , thermal stability , glass transition , scanning electron microscope , shape memory alloy , tensile testing , dynamic mechanical analysis , polymer , chemical engineering , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
In this article, we design a new thermal curing method: two‐stage curing. The purpose of using this approach is to maintain the excellent shape‐memory property of epoxy resin system after first stage curing, and the material can be folded in small size to storage or transportation and recovery its original shape commodiously by heating temperature. Then, after second stage curing, the stability, glass transition temperature( T g ), and tensile strength of material can be improved effectively. For this aim, a series of mixtures have been prepared. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), tensile test, scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and fold‐deploy shape‐memory test have been used to characterize the feasibility of two‐stage curing process, curing degree, tensile strength, morphology, thermodynamic properties, and shape‐memory performance of these polymers. DSC results show that two independent curing stages can be achieved successfully. Tensile tests and DMA results suggest that tensile strength and heat resistance have been improved after the second curing stage. SEM results reveal that the addition of latent curing agent do not change the fracture mechanism. Furthermore, the fold‐deploy shape‐memory tests prove that the composites after first stage curing possess eximious shape‐memory property. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131 , 39882.