Shape memory and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone/polypropylene carbonate nanocomposite blends in the presence of G-POSS nanoparticles

• Main Authors: A. Kamyab, A. Ghasemi-Ghalebahman, A. Fereidoon, H. A. Khonakdar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Budapest University of Technology 2021-05-01
• Series: eXPRESS Polymer Letters
• Subjects: nanocomposites; polycaprolactone; polypropylene carbonate; poss; shape memory
• Online Access: http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0011005&mi=cd

This study deals with investigating the morphological, mechanical, dynamic-mechanical, and shape memory properties of novel Polycaprolactone (PCL)/polypropylene carbonate (PPC)-based nanocomposite blends reinforced with GlycidylIsobutyl-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (G-POSS) nanoparticles. Scanning Electron Microscopy images of blends revealed droplet-matrix morphology with distinct domains where increased PPC content led to increased number and size for PCC droplets. Introducing nanoparticles by compatibilizing the blends changed the droplet-matrix morphology to a co-continuous one and consequently improved mechanical and shape memory properties. Distribution of nanoparticles up to 5 wt% remained uniform for samples with higher PPC contents. The shape memory analysis results revealed that the shape memory properties were highly dependent on the mixing ratio of polymers and nanoparticles content. Besides, introducing the nanoparticles caused a considerable reduction in the recovery time. Finally, the composition with a PCL/PPC ratio of 20/80 as well 5 wt% G-POSS content was suggested as the sample with optimum shape memory properties with Tg = 35 °C, fixity ratio = 98%, recovery ratio = 95%, and the remarkable recovery time of 17 seconds, enjoying the elastic modulus of 772 MPa, the tensile strength of 85.2 MPa, and elongation at break of 450% that shows the high potential of this blend for different applications, especially in the biomedical field.