Memory effects performance of polyurethane shape memory polymer composites (SMPC) in the variation of fiber volume fractions

The utilization of chopped glass fibers as reinforcement in shape memory polymer composites (SMPC) has been introduced due to their functions and high specific mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of proposed combining polymer composite that consists of a polyurethane matrix and chopped glass fibers were determined while influences of fibers volume fraction (%) was evaluated where composites with volumetric amounts of fiber up to 30 % were fabricated. The cyclic thermomechanical test was carried out to determine the efficiency of shape fixation and shape recovery of the material. The data gathered was also used to examine the performance characteristics of the polymer composite material. The obtained results showed that the strength of the composite tends to increase with the amount of chopped glass fiber, which indicates effective stress transfer between the glass fiber and polyurethane polymer. The performance of SMPCs also depicted inverse effects with increase of fiber volume fraction. Hence, the percentages of shape fixation and shape recovery decreased by the increment of chopped glass fiber. When higher volume fiber fraction of 30 % was used, it showed the minimum value for almost all the fixations and recovery modes. It was observed that the effects of reinforcing polyurethane matrix with chopped glass fibers caused the SMPC to be more inflexible to deformation due to high stiffness.