Electroactive shape-memory polymer nanocomposites incorporating carbon nanofiber paper

A conductive carbon nanofiber (CNF) paper is described for the actuation of shape recovery of a shape-memory polymer (SMP) by electrically resistive Joule heating. The CNF paper was manufactured using a traditional physical vapor deposition process and the microscale morphology and structure of the CNF paper were observed using a scanning electron microscope. The CNF paper was found to be porous, with the pore size determined by the weight concentration of CNF. The excellent electrical properties of pure CNF papers and their SMP composites were characterized by the four-point probe method. Shape recovery actuation of this type of SMP composite induced by electrically resistive heating was achieved with a 12 V voltage. Additionally, the thermomechanical properties of the SMP composite were studied with respect to the volume fraction of CNF paper.