Exploring the Effect of Moisture Exposure on Shape Memory Polymer Performance

The work presented here explores the effect of environmental exposure on the mechanical and shape memory properties of a melt-compounded polymer blend composed of polylactic acid (PLA) and maleated styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS-g-MA) in a 50:50 by weight ratio. Specimens were fabricated us...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of polymers and the environment 2023-08, Vol.31 (8), p.3351-3362
Main Authors: Avila, Jorge M., Cavender-Word, Truman J., Roberson, David A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Additive manufacturing
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Cognitive ability
Distilled water
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental effects
Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology
Exposure
Fabrication
Fracture surfaces
Fused deposition modeling
High temperature
Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
Injection
Injection molding
Manufacturing industry
Materials Science
Moisture effects
Original Paper
Polylactic acid
Polymer blends
Polymer Sciences
Polymers
Shape memory
Styrene
Styrenes
Tensile strength
Ultimate tensile strength
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Summary:The work presented here explores the effect of environmental exposure on the mechanical and shape memory properties of a melt-compounded polymer blend composed of polylactic acid (PLA) and maleated styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS-g-MA) in a 50:50 by weight ratio. Specimens were fabricated using the additive manufacturing process of fused filament fabrication or injection molding and exposed to distilled water for 120 h at an elevated temperature of 60 °C. The effect of this exposure on mechanical and shape memory properties was assessed by comparison to control specimens. Resulting data shows that shape memory performance did not suffer as a result of the water exposure as determined by the calculated shape fixation and shape recovery ratios. The additively manufactured samples exhibited higher ultimate tensile strength values as compared to the injection molded samples in all experimental groups. However, a decrease in tensile strength was observed for the additively manufactured moisture exposed samples, most likely due to a higher propensity to absorb moisture as compared to injection molded specimens. Finally, scanning electron microanalysis was used to determine the effect of the exposure on fracture surface morphology of selected specimens, which was found to be more prominent in the case of fused filament fabricated specimens.
ISSN:1566-2543
1572-8919
DOI:10.1007/s10924-023-02818-w