"Shape memory properties of trans-polyisoprene/organic clay composites "

Abstract

trans-polyisoprene(TPI)/organic clay (OC) nanocomposites (TPICNs) were prepared by adding OC into TPI matrix. The crystallisation, shape memory properties, mechanical properties and micromorphology of TPICNs were investigated by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, dyna-mic mechanical analysis and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results showed that the crystallinity, tensile strength and shape recovery rate of TPICNs increased first and then decreased with increase of OC content. When the amount of OC was 1.2 phr (mass), the tensile strength of TPICNs was the highest and the shape memory behaviour was the best. The crystalline particles on the fraction surface of TPICNs were uniformly distributed.

Keywords

• trans-polyisoprene， organic clay， curing characteristics， mechanical property， degree of crystallinity，micromorphology， shape memory property，