Synergistic effect of self-assembled carbon nanofibers and hexagonal boron nitride for improved electro-activated polymeric shape memory nanocomposite

This work studies the synergistic effect of self-assembled carbon nanofiber nanopaper and hexagonal boron nitrides on the electrical and thermal properties and the electro-activated shape recovery behavior of shape memory polymer nanocomposites. The combination of the carbon nanofiber nanopaper and hexagonal boron nitrides results in improved electrical and thermal conductivities of the shape memory polymer nanocomposites. The carbon nanofiber nanopaper was coated on the surface of the shape memory polymer nanocomposite in order to achieve the shape recovery induced by electrical Joule heating. The hexagonal boron nitrides were blended into the shape memory polymer resin to improve the thermal conductivity and decrease their thermal dissimilarity with carbon nanofiber nanopaper, which enhanced the heat transfer from the nanopaper to the underlying shape memory polymer nanocomposite to accelerate the actuation.