Synthesis and characterization of high temperature cyanate-based shape memory polymers with functional polybutadiene/acrylonitrile

- Shape memory cyanate polymers (SMCPs) with high Tg (up to 255.1 °C) are synthesized.
- The SMCPs are modified with polybutadiene/acrylonitrile or polyethylene glycol.
- The SMCPs all possess high thermal stability and shape recovery ratios above 95%.
- The modified SMCPs possess much higher toughness than unmodified polycyanurate.
- The SMCPs are promising material systems of high Tg SMPs for space applications.

New thermosetting shape memory cyanate polymers (SMCPs) modified with polybutadiene/acrylonitrile (PBAN) were synthesized and compared with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified SMCPs for integration into the family of high temperature shape memory polymers with controllable glass transition temperatures (Tg) used in the aerospace industry. The materials were characterized in terms of microstructure, thermal properties, mechanical properties and shape memory properties by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and tensile tests. Differing from the SMCP with PEG, the new cyanate-based shape memory polymer with PBAN (Tg ∼255.1.0 °C) had better shape memory properties and higher thermal stability (relatively high initial degradation temperature and high char residue value at 800 °C). Both of the SMCPs with PBAN and PEG displayed exceedingly high glass transition temperatures over 241.3 °C and higher toughness than unmodified polycyanurate. These qualities render them desirable candidates as matrices in polymer composites, particularly for space applications.

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