Radiation-crosslinking of shape memory polymers based on poly(vinyl alcohol) in the presence of carbon nanotubes

• SMPs were presented via a combination of chemical and radiation crosslinking.
• SMPs were developed containing PVA in the presence of CEA and MWCNTs.
• Radiation crosslinked SM-PVA demonstrated 100% gel fraction at 50 kGy.
• Radiation crosslinked SM-PVA exhibits good temperature responsive SM behavior.

Shape memory polymers based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (SM-PVA) in the presence of 2-carboxyethyl acrylate oligomers (CEA) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) crosslinked by ionizing radiation were investigated. Chemical-crosslinking of PVA by glutaraldehyde in the presence of CEA and MWCNTs was also studied. The swelling and gel fraction of the radiation-crosslinked SM-PVA and chemically crosslinked systems were evaluated. Analysis of the swelling and gel fraction revealed a significant reduction in swelling and an increase in the gel fraction of the material that was chemically crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. The radiation-crosslinked SM-PVA demonstrated 100% gelation at an irradiation dose of 50 kGy. In addition, radiation-crosslinked SM-PVA exhibited good temperature responsive shape-memory behavior. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed. The thermal properties of radiation-crosslinked SM-PVA were investigated by a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The ability of the material to return or store energy (E′), to its ability to lose energy (E″), and the ratio of these effects (Tanδ), which is called damping were examined via DMA. The temperature of Tanδ in the radiation-crosslinked SM-PVA decreased significantly by 6 and 13 °C as a result of the addition of MWCNTs. In addition, the temperature of Tanδ for SM-PVA increased as the irradiation dose increased. These radiation-crosslinked SM-PVA materials show promising shape-memory behavior based on the range of temperatures at which Tanδ appears.