Shape Memory Epoxy Foams: New Materials for Aerospace Applications

Abstract:

In this paper, shape memory epoxy foams, obtained by the new solid-state foaming process for thermosetting resin powder, are investigated. Foaming experiments in different configurations, compression tests, constrained stress recovery tests, and density measurements are discussed. The interesting results seem to be very promising for the aerospace application of shape memory epoxy foams as light actuators, structural parts with reduced size during shipping, and expandable/deployable structures. Finally, an attractive experiment is introduced. It is designed for the next Space Shuttle STS-134/ULF-6 in I-25/26, on April 2011, with the aim to study the behavior of this new class of materials in microgravity.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volumes 706-709)
• Pages: 165-172
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.706-709.165
• Online since: January 2012
• Authors: Loredana Santo
• Keywords: Shape Memory Epoxy Foam, Smart Polymers, SMP Foam

References

[1] Lendlein A. and Kelch S., Shape-memory polymers Angew, Chem. Int. Edn 41, (2002) 2034–57.

DOI: 10.1002/1521-3773(20020617)41:12<2034::aid-anie2034>3.0.co;2-m

[2] Sokolowski W. M. and Hayashi S., Applications of cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) structures, Proceedings of the SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 5056 (2003) 534-44.

DOI: 10.1117/12.483480

[3] Gall K., Mikulas M., Munshi N. A., Beavers F. and Tupper M., Carbon fiber reinforced shape memory polymer composites, J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct 11 (2000) 877–86.

DOI: 10.1177/104538900772664053

[4] Gall K., Dunn M. L., Liu Y., Finch D., Lake M. and Munshi N. A., Shape memory polymer nanocomposites, Acta Mater. 50 (2002) 5115–26.

[5] Tobushi H., Okumura K., Endo M. and Hayashi S., Thermomechanical properties of polyurethane-shape memory polymer foam, J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct. 12 (2001) 283–7.

DOI: 10.1106/fnsx-ap9v-qp1r-nmwv

[6] Di Prima M. A., Lesniewski M., Gall K., McDowell D. L., Sanderson T. and Campbell D., Thermo-mechanical behavior of epoxy shape memory polymer foams, Smart Mater. Struct. 16 (2007) 2330–40.

DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/16/6/037

[7] Di Prima M. A., Gall K., McDowell D. L., Guldberg R., Lin A., Sanderson T., Campbell D. and Arzberger S. C., Deformation of epoxy shape memory polymer foam. Part I: experiments and macroscale constitutive modelling, Mech. Mater. 42 (2010) 304–14.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mechmat.2009.11.001

[8] Di Prima M. A., Gall K., McDowell D. L., Guldberg R., Lin A., Sanderson T., Campbell D. and Arzberger S. C., Deformation of epoxy shape memory polymer foam: part II. Mesoscale modeling and simulation, Mech. Mater. 42 (2010) 315–25.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mechmat.2009.11.002

[9] Sokolowski W. M., Chmielewski A. B., Hayashi S. and Yamada T., Cold hibernated Elastic Memory (CHEM) Self-Deployable Structures, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 3669 (1999)179-185.

DOI: 10.1117/12.349675

[10] Quadrini F. and Squeo E., Solid-state foaming of epoxy resin, J. Cell. Plast. 44 (2008)161–73.

[11] Squeo E. A. and F. Quadrini, Shape memory epoxy foams by solid-state foaming, Smart Mater. Struct. 19 (2010)105002 (9pp).

DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/19/10/105002

[12] Murray N. G. D. and Dunand D. C., Microstructure evolution during solid-state foaming of titanium, Compos. Sci. Technol. 63 (2003) 2311–6.

[13] Murray N. G. D., Schuh C. A. and Dunand D. C., Solid-state foaming of titanium by hydrogen-induced internal-stress superplasticity, Scr. Mater. 49 (2003) 879–83.

DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6462(03)00438-x

[14] Santo L., Mascetti G., Villadei W., Bernabei M., Zolesi V., Shape Memory Epoxy Foams for Aerospace: Experimentation on ISS, Proceedings of 61 Int. Astronautical Congress, Prague, CZ, (2010) ref. IAC-10-A2. 6. 6.

[15] F. Quadrini, A. Guglielmotti, F. Lamastra, C. Lucignano, F. Nanni, L. Santo, E.A. Squeo, Epoxy nanocomposite foams by solid-state foaming, ICCE-17, 26 July - 1 August 2009, Hawaii, USA.