Electroactive shape-memory effects of hydro-epoxy/carbon black composites

Electroactive shape-memory hydro-epoxy/carbon black composites are investigated in this study. The thermomechanical and the shape-memory properties of these composites are characterized using dynamic mechanical analysis and U-type shape-memory tests. These results indicate that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composites decreases first and then increases slightly as the carbon black content increases. The storage modulus at high temperatures increases as the carbon black content increases. The percolation threshold of the electroactive shape-memory hydro-epoxy composite is lower than that for many other composites. Because of the low percolation threshold, the electroactive shape-memory hydro-epoxy composite exhibits excellent shape-memory property. The sample filled with 1.9 wt% carbon black can recover nearly 100% of its original shape in only a few minutes under an applied voltage of 200 V.