Sun Yadong, Teng Jiachi, Kuang Yi, Yang Shengxiang, Yang Jiquan, Mao Hongli, Gu Zhongwei
Research Institute for Biomaterials, Tech Institute for Advanced Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China.
College of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, China.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022 Jul 15;10:964080. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.964080. eCollection 2022.
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have a wide range of potential applications in many fields. In particular, electrically driven SMPs have attracted increasing attention due to their unique electrical deformation behaviors. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are often used as SMP conductive fillers because of their excellent electrical conductivities. However, raw CNTs do not disperse into the polymer matrix well. This strictly limits their use. In this study, to improve their dispersion performance characteristics in the polymer matrix, hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-OHs) were functionalized with octadecyl isocyanate (i-MWCNTs). Polyurethane with shape memory properties (SMPU) was synthesized using polycaprolactone diol (PCL-diol), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) at a 1:5:4 ratio. Then, electroactive shape memory composites were developed by blending SMPU with i-MWCNTs to produce SMPU/i-MWCNTs. The functionalized i-MWCNTs exhibited better dispersibility characteristics in organic solvents and SMPU composites than the MWCNT-OHs. The addition of i-MWCNTs reduced the crystallinity of SMPU without affecting the original chemical structure. In addition, the hydrogen bond index and melting temperature of the SMPU soft segment decreased significantly, and the thermal decomposition temperatures of the composites increased. The SMPU/i-MWCNT composites exhibited conductivity when the i-MWCNT content was 0.5 wt%. This conductivity increased with the i-MWCNT content. In addition, when the i-MWCNT content exceeded 1 wt%, the composite temperature could increase beyond 60°C within 140 s and the temporary structure could be restored to its initial state within 120 s using a voltage of 30 eV. Therefore, the functionalized CNTs exhibit excellent potential for use in the development of electroactive shape memory composites, which may be used in flexible electronics and other fields.
形状记忆聚合物(SMPs)在许多领域具有广泛的潜在应用。特别是,电驱动的SMPs因其独特的电致变形行为而受到越来越多的关注。碳纳米管(CNTs)由于其优异的导电性,常被用作SMP的导电填料。然而,原始的CNTs在聚合物基体中分散性不佳。这严格限制了它们的使用。在本研究中,为了改善它们在聚合物基体中的分散性能,用异氰酸十八酯(i-MWCNTs)对羟基化多壁碳纳米管(MWCNT-OHs)进行功能化处理。使用聚己内酯二醇(PCL-二醇)、六亚甲基二异氰酸酯(HDI)和1,4-丁二醇(BDO)以1:5:4的比例合成了具有形状记忆性能的聚氨酯(SMPU)。然后,通过将SMPU与i-MWCNTs共混来制备电活性形状记忆复合材料,以得到SMPU/i-MWCNTs。功能化的i-MWCNTs在有机溶剂和SMPU复合材料中表现出比MWCNT-OHs更好的分散性。添加i-MWCNTs降低了SMPU的结晶度,而不影响其原始化学结构。此外,SMPU软段的氢键指数和熔点显著降低,复合材料的热分解温度升高。当i-MWCNT含量为0.5 wt%时,SMPU/i-MWCNT复合材料表现出导电性。这种导电性随i-MWCNT含量的增加而增加。此外,当i-MWCNT含量超过1 wt%时,在30 eV的电压下,复合材料温度可在140 s内升高至60°C以上,且临时结构可在120 s内恢复到初始状态。因此,功能化的碳纳米管在电活性形状记忆复合材料的开发中具有优异的应用潜力,可用于柔性电子等领域。