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Remotely actuated polymer nanocomposites—stress-recovery of carbon-nanotube-filled thermoplastic elastomers

Nature Materials volume 3, pages 115–120 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive (active) materials undergo large-scale shape or property changes in response to an external stimulus such as stress, temperature, light or pH1,2. Technological uses range from durable, shape-recovery eye-glass frames, to temperature-sensitive switches, to the generation of stress to induce mechanical motion3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Here, we demonstrate that the uniform dispersion of 1–5 vol.% of carbon nanotubes in a thermoplastic elastomer yields nanocomposites that can store and subsequently release, through remote means, up to 50% more recovery stress than the pristine resin. The anisotropic nanotubes increase the rubbery modulus by a factor of 2 to 5 (for 1–5 vol.%) and improve shape fixity by enhancing strain-induced crystallization. Non-radiative decay of infrared photons absorbed by the nanotubes raises the internal temperature, melting strain-induced polymer crystallites (which act as physical crosslinks that secure the deformed shape) and remotely trigger the release of the stored strain energy. Comparable effects occur for electrically induced actuation associated with Joule heating of the matrix when a current is passed through the conductive percolative network of the nanotubes within the resin. This unique combination of properties, directly arising from the nanocomposite morphology, demonstrates new opportunities for the design and fabrication of stimuli-responsive polymers, which are otherwise not available in one material system.

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Figure 1: Scanning electron micrographs of fracture surfaces of a Morthane nanocomposite containing 5.9 vol.% (10 wt%) PR-HT-19 CNTs.
Figure 2: Optical images of the shape- and stress recovery of PCNs.
Figure 3: Comparison of the impact of CNTs and carbon black on the constrained stress-recovery behaviour of neat Morthane.
Figure 4: Morphological characteristics of CNTs on deformation.

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Acknowledgements

Fruitful discussions with B. Taylor and C.-S. Wang on sample preparation and conductivity measurements, B. Hsiao and I. Sics on utilization of X27C Beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and P. Mather are gratefully acknowledged. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate provided financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nonmetallic Materials Division, University of Dayton Research Institute, 300 College Park Ave, Dayton, 45469, Ohio, USA

    Hilmar Koerner & Gary Price

  2. Miami University, 501 E. High St., Oxford, 45056, Ohio, USA

    Nathan A. Pearce

  3. Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, 2941 P St, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 45433, Ohio, USA

    Max Alexander & Richard A. Vaia

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  1. Hilmar Koerner
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Correspondence to Richard A. Vaia.

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Koerner, H., Price, G., Pearce, N. et al. Remotely actuated polymer nanocomposites—stress-recovery of carbon-nanotube-filled thermoplastic elastomers. Nature Mater 3, 115–120 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1059

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