γ-rays radiation resistant shape memory cyanate ester resin and its composites with high transition temperature

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) as a kind of functional material have attracted great attention in aerospace field. High temperature resistant, high mechanical strength and space environment resistant materials are needed in practical applications. In this paper, the cyanate ester resin with a high glass transition temperature 219.4 degrees C and a high storage modulus 2.14 GPa was fabricated. The effect of different dose of gamma-rays radiation on shape memory cyanate ester (SMCE) resin was investigated. Compared to the SMCE resin, the storage modulus of the irradiated SMCE who underwent 1000 KGy radiation increased 2.6% and the stretching strain exceeded 44.5%. The shape recovery rate of SMCE reached up to 99.6% and that of the irradiated SMCE is 98.8%. Moreover, carbon fiber fabric reinforced cyanate-based composites were prepared via a sandwich mold perfusion method for increasing resin's strength and load, whose shape recovery time was shorter than that of SMCE. Thermosetting SMPs and their composites with high transition temperature and good irradiation resistance performances is expected to play an important role on spacecraft in the future.