Nanocomposites with shape memory behavior based on a segmented polyurethane and magnetic nanostructures

Abstract

Shape-memory composites based on a commercial segmented polyurethane and magnetite (Fe⁠3O⁠4) nanoparticles(NPs) were prepared by a simple suspension casting method. The properties of the resulting nanocomposites,containing 1 to 10 nominal wt.% magnetic particles, were evaluated by thermogravimetric tests, contact anglemeasurements, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared and X-ray spectroscopy, static and thermal cyclic tensiletests, dynamic mechanical analysis and experiments of alternating-magnetic-field heating. It was found thatmost of the suspended NPs could be successfully incorporated into the polyurethane matrix, and thus compositesamples with up to 7 wt.% actual concentration were obtained. On the other hand, the incorporation of magnetitenanoparticles to the shape memory polyurethane did not significantly affect most of the matrix properties,including its shape memory behavior, while added magnetic response to the nanocomposites. Thus, nanocompositeswere able to increase their temperature when exposed to an alternating magnetic field, which allowedthem to recover their original shape quickly by an indirect triggering method.