Thermomechanical properties of polyurethane shape memory polymer-experiment and modelling

In this paper extensive research on the polyurethane shape memory polymer (PU-SMP) is reported, including its structure analysis, our experimental investigation of its thermomechanical properties and its modelling. The influence of the effects of thermomechanical couplings on the SMP behaviour durin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Smart materials and structures 2015-04, Vol.24 (4), p.45043-16
Main Authors: Pieczyska, E A, Maj, M, Kowalczyk-Gajewska, K, Staszczak, M, Gradys, A, Majewski, M, Cristea, M, Tobushi, H, Hayashi, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activation
constitutive model
Constitutive relationships
dynamic mechanical analysis
infrared camera
Mathematical models
Modelling
Polyurethane resins
Shape memory
shape memory polyurethane
Strain rate
temperature change
thermomechanical couplings
Thermomechanical properties
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Summary:In this paper extensive research on the polyurethane shape memory polymer (PU-SMP) is reported, including its structure analysis, our experimental investigation of its thermomechanical properties and its modelling. The influence of the effects of thermomechanical couplings on the SMP behaviour during tension at room temperature is studied using a fast and sensitive infrared camera. It is shown that the thermomechanical behaviour of the SMP significantly depends on the strain rate: at a higher strain rate higher stress and temperature values are obtained. This indicates that an increase of the strain rate leads to activation of different deformation mechanisms at the micro-scale, along with reorientation and alignment of the molecular chains. Furthermore, influence of temperature on the SMP's mechanical behaviour is studied. It is observed during the loading in a thermal chamber that at the temperature 20 °C below the glass transition temperature (Tg) the PU-SMP strengthens about six times compared to the material above Tg but does not exhibit the shape recovery. A finite-strain constitutive model is formulated, where the SMP is described as a two-phase material composed of a hyperelastic rubbery phase and elastic-viscoplastic glassy phase. The volume content of phases is governed by the current temperature. Finally, model predictions are compared with the experimental results.
ISSN:0964-1726
1361-665X
DOI:10.1088/0964-1726/24/4/045043