Multifunctional shape memory polymer composites: laboratory to reality via additive manufacturing

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Shape memory polymers (SMP) can store a temporary shape and restore their original shape upon application of an external stimulus, such as heat. SMP offer important advantages over other shape memory materials, such as shape memory alloys. Some of these advantages are lightweight, relatively higher strain recover-ability, easier tailorable properties, and manufacturability. They have the great potential to be utilized in applications, such as unmanned air vehicles (UAV), morphing aircraft components, and biomedical stents, to name a few. The bottleneck in their broader utilization is their inherently low mechanical properties and shape recovery forces (SRF), and a fundamental understanding of their properties in actual “field applications” as a function of humidity, temperature, etc. These important aspects need to be addressed and documented in detail for critical applications, and this is the main motivation behind this proposal for our research program.Most SMP are affected by humidity; therefore, we conducted detailed studies to identify its effects on SMP. Additionally, we studied the effect of print parameters on the properties of the SMP printed using extrusion based additive manufacturing (EBAM) technique. SMP-composites (SMPC) are reinforced SMP and have higher mechanical properties and SRF compared to SMP. My group has been working towards production and characterization of multifunctional SMPC produced by EBAM technique for a number of years. Building on to the knowledge and expertise we have developed, this proposal is prepared to address the aforementioned shortcomings.The main objectives of the proposed research program are: (a) to produce and characterize fiber reinforced SMPC using EBAM; (b) to develop a model to predict the properties of SMPC; (c) to produce SMPC with integrated heating elements to facilitate field activations, and to investigate the resistance of the heating elements for structural health monitoring (SHM) capability.The novelty and significance of the proposed program originate from its promise to provide a strong analytical and experimental understanding of the SMPC. This will provide a large experimental database not only for this program but also for the researchers and engineers that work with SMPC for years to come. The analytical model will be a simple yet accurate model that is unfortunately currently missing in the literature and intended to be a pioneering work in the field. The proposed activation technique and SHM capabilities will make these novel materials true multifunctional SMPC. Consequently, the proposal will provide a way forward to take these materials out of the laboratories to actual field applications by promoting scientific knowledge based use of SMPC in the aforementioned strategically critical applications. The program will make significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in Canada and around the world.