A Study On Deployable Structures Based On Shape Memory Polymer Composites

In this thesis, several key problems concerning with the shape memory polymer composites (SMPC) based self-deployable structures were studied. The details and main conclusions are summarized as follows:1. A new method to activate SMPC by microwave was proposed and a novel Tetra-needle-shaped zinc oxide whisker (T-ZnOw)/SMP composite was developed considering the strong microwave absorption ability of the T-ZnOw.2. The thermo-mechanical and shape memory properties of the T-ZnOw/SMP were tested with different T-ZnOw ratio and the shape memory activation experiments by low power microwave were performed. From test results it was revealed that the addition of the T-ZnOw particles into SMP just influenced the shape memory properties slightly but the microwave absorption ability enhanced greatly and the remote activation of the T-ZnOw/SMP by microwave was feasible.3. A new kind of shape memory polymer foam (SMPF) was fabricated. The obtained foam was uniform, light weight as well as the good shape memory properties and high packing-deploying ratio. The thermo-mechanical properties and shape memory indexes of the SMPF were tested with the compression and cyclic thermo-mechanical experiments.4. Self-deployable laminated beam was fabricated with SMPF core and carbon fiber cloth shell. The beam could be packaged and deployed by thermal activation efficiently, and the characteristics of the deformation and rigidity were investigated for the packaged and deployed laminated beam.