Abstract
Thermoset polymers exhibiting shape memory properties were derived on reacting digycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with bisphenol A dicyanate ester (BADC) in presence of a shape memory polymer precursor i.e. phenol-telechelic poly(?-caprolactone) (PCLOH) that was synthesized. Cure characteristics of the blends were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and FTIR. Blends with varying proportions of DGEBA/PCLOH/BADC were studied for their flexural, dynamic mechanical and shape memory properties. The flexural strength and modulus decreased with increase in concentration of poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL). The storage modulus and the transition temperature (Ttrans) of the systems also showed a similar trend. These polymers showed good shape memory properties. PCL increased the modulus ratio (Eg/Er) which in turn increased the extent of shape recovery with a concomitant diminution in the shape recovery time. An increase in temperature results in faster recovery with an increase in the extent of shape recovery. The epoxy-cyanate ester system possesses adequate thermal, mechanical and shape memory characteristics for possible use in smart actuatorsystems.