Performance of rare earth organic complexes based light activated shape memory polymer composites

The shape memory polymers (SMPs) have the ability to retain a temporary shape and recover its original shape once exposed to a particular external stimulus. Compared to other stimulation methods, light activated shape memory polymers have a significant potential in developing breakthrough technologies in biomedical, aerospace and space engineering industry since the shape memory effect can be remotely controlled by a light beam. Introduction of photothermal fillers into thermally activated SMPs is one of the convenient and commercially available approaches to prepare light activated shape memory polymer composites (LASMPCs). The cost-efficient filler system based on rare earth organic complexes of Nd(TTA)3Phen and Yb(TTA)3Phen demonstrate selective photothermal effect by absorbing near infrared (NIR) radiation. However, due to inadequate structural properties, LASPMCs are incapable to use in a wide range of large-scale engineering applications. In this study, the effects of rare earth organic complexes and glass fibre reinforcements on mechanical properties and shape memory behaviour have been investigated. Inclusion of photothermal fillers has shown a negative effect on the mechanical properties of the LASMPCs. However, the glass fibre reinforcement has increased the mechanical properties except the compression strength as anticipated. In addition, it has been observed that the glass fibre reinforced LASMPCs with Nd(TTA)3Phen and Yb(TTA)3Phen have demonstrated photothermal effect due to 808 nm and 980 nm NIR irradiation as anticipated. Interestingly, the combination of photothermal fillers and glass fibre reinforcements have shown the LASMPCs potential to apply in large-scale engineering applications.