Shape Memory Mechanics of an Elastic Memory Composite Resin

Substantially more attention has been given in the past to shape memory alloys and shape memory ceramics than to shape memory polymers because unreinforced shape memory polymers have much lower stiffness and recovery force potential than shape memory alloys and shape memory ceramics. However, when incorporated into a fiber-reinforced composite, both the stiffness and the recovery force of a shape memory polymer can be dramatically improved. This paper presents recent advances in characterizing the shape memory mechanics of a thermoset shape memory polymer resin for Elastic Memory Composite (EMC) materials. In particular, heretofore undocumented response behavior is characterized through a series of thermo-mechanical tests of a commercially available EMC resin, and a lumped parameter model is adapted to accurately correlate this behavior. Through application of this model, it appears that the molecular transition associated with the shape memory effect occurs at a temperature other than the glass transition temperature of the resin.