A shape memory polymer was prepared by melt mixing a semicrystalline maleated polyolefin elastomer (mPOE) with a small amount of polyaniline (PANI) (up to 15 wt.%) in an internal mixer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR analysis, DMA, DSC, melt rheological analysis, and a tensile test were performed to characterize the structure and properties of the mPOE/PANI blends. The results revealed that the blends form a physically crosslinked network via the grafting of PANI onto the mPOE chains, and the PANI dispersed at the nanometer scale in the POE matrix served as a photo-thermal agent and provided increased crosslinking points. These structural features enabled the blends to exhibit a shape memory effect upon near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. With increasing PANI content, the shape recovery rate of the blend under NIR stimulation was improved and reached 96% at 15 wt.% of PANI.
Keywords: NIR light responsive; melt blending; polyaniline; semicrystalline maleated polyolefin elastomer; shape memory polymer.