Effect of epoxy-graft-polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether on preparation, mechanical properties and triple-shape memory effect of carbon nanotube/water-borne epoxy nanocomposites

Abstract In the present study, the effect of epoxy-graft-polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether (EP-g-TX100) on the processing and properties of the novel carbon nanotube (CNT)/water-borne epoxy (WEP) triple-shape memory nanocomposites was investigated. Generally, common epoxy or CNT/epoxy nanocomposites only possess dual-shape memory effect (DSME) that can remember only one temporary shape. In addition, CNTs aggregation and chemically inactive surface have remained a vexing problem that limits CNTs in composite application. In order to obtain excellent CNT/epoxy triple-shape memory effect (TSME) nanocomposites prepared via environmental friendly approach, EP-g-TX100 was synthesized and introduced to the CNT-epoxy system as a reactive emulsifier for epoxy emulsion, a non-covalent dispersant for CNTs, and a new reversible phase for TSME epoxy system. The multifunction self-made TX100-dangled epoxy surfactant for preparing CNT/epoxy TSME nanocomposites was first reported. The experimental results show that EP-g-TX100 had a good emulsifying ability to emulsify epoxy in water. CNTs were homogenously dispersed and well incorporated into WEP matrix and significantly improved the mechanical properties of the CNT/WEP nanocomposites. The final nanocomposites exhibited excellent TSME as we expected.