Experimental characterization of shape-memory polymers: influence of processing methods and chemical structure

Identifier:  TDX:2187

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2187

Authors:  Santiago Abraira, David Manuel

Abstract:
In this thesis, the experimental characterization of thermoplastic and thermosetting shape-memory polymers was carried out. Particularly, we studied the effect of different operation thermomechanical conditions and chemical structure on mechanical and shape-memory properties. Regarding the operation conditions, several shape-memory cycles were carried out with different combinations of thermomechanical parameters. In terms of chemical structure, two different networks were studied. The first consist of epoxy resins modified with hyperbranched polymers. In this case, we studied in detail the effect of the content and molecular weight of the hyperbranched polymer on viscoelastic, thermomechanical and shape-memory properties. The second consist of acrylate networks synthesized from bisphenol A-based crosslinking agents, which improve mechanical and shape-memory properties of this class of materials. Regarding the study of these shape-memory networks, dynamic mechanic analysis, mechanical characterization tests and shape-memory performances were carried out.