Improving the electrical conductivity by forming Ni powder chains in a shape-memory polymer filled with carbon black

Xin Lan*, Wei Min Huang, Na Liu, S. Y. Phee, Jin Song Leng, Shan Yi Du

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We demonstrate a simple approach to significantly reduce the electrical resistivity of thermo-responsive shape-memory polymers (SMPs), so that they can be easily triggered for shape recovery by Joule heating at a low electrical voltage. After adding a small amount of Ni micro particles into a polyurethane SMP filled with carbon black (CB), the electrical resistivity is slightly reduced. However, if these Ni particles are aligned into chains (by applying a low magnetic field on SMP/CB/Ni solution and then drying to fix the conductive chains), the drop of electrical resistivity is significant. This kind of SMP composites is suitable for cyclic operation as only micro/nano particles are used. A sample (40×l5×lmm) with 10vol% of CB and 0.5vol% of chained Ni can be heated to 80̊C for shape recovery at 30 V (1.2 W) of power. This approach is generic and applicable for producing other conductive polymers.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2008 - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Mar 10 2008Mar 13 2008

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6927
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceElectroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period3/10/083/13/08

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • Conductive polymers
  • Electrical conductivity
  • Ni chains
  • Shape memory polymer
  • Thermo-responsive

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