Designing PANI modified PU films coupled with CNTs for the enhanced shape memory properties

Abstract

Polyurethane (PU) based shape memory polymers are considered a supreme choice for the shape recovery applications. However, they face problem with their mechanical and thermal properties which can lead to significant challenges in their development and practical implications. Herein, an effectual and novel strategy has been adopted to overcome these limitations by incorporating CNTs along with polyaniline to the PU chains to form a ternary PU based nanocomposite. By introducing these conductive fillers an exceptional elongation at break (18.35 MPa), a higher thermal stability (up-to 342 °C), an optimal Young’s Modulus (456.49 MPa) and high tensile strength (26.49 MPa) is achieved while also holding a higher shape recovery aptitude (96%). Additionally, electrical conductivity (5.00 × 10-2 S cm-1) achieved for the ternary hybrid was also found to be an ideal value for the electromagnetic shielding based applications. Overall, PANI/f-CNTs@PU nanocomposite designed in the current study depicted ideal shape memory parameters which can be credited to the synergistic effect of the CNTs and PANI in the PU matrix. The fabricated nanocomposite PANI/f-CNTs@PU can be further utilized in various memory based application of materials in diversified industrial applications including sensors, self healing materials and electronics etc.