The Two-Stage Curing Method for Shape-Memory Materials

In this paper, a various shape-memory materials had been prepared by two-stage curing method. The purpose of using this approach was to maintain the excellent shape memory properties and low glass transition temperature (Tg) of shape-memory materials after first stage curing, furthermore, improve the Tg and heat resistence effectively after second stage curing. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and fold-deploy shape memory tests were used to characterize the feasibility of two-stage curing, thermodynamics properties and shape memory performance of these polymers. DSC results showed that two different curing stages could be achieved successfully, DMA results suggested that heat resistance of materials had been improved after second curing stage, while the fold-deploy shape memory tests proved that the composites possessed excellent shape memory properties, it could be deformed into different shape and recovered its original shape fully within three minutes.