A facile approach towards fabrication of multi-walled nanotubes embedded polyurethane high performance nanocomposite with efficient shape recovery

In a catalyst free environment, thermo-responsive shape memory polyurethane was synthesized by one-pot process. A series of PU- nanocomposites were created using varing concentrations of FMWCNTs using solution mixing approach. The FTIR and RBS analysis were used to characterizethe designed PU and its nanocomposites. Smooth surfaces with uniform dispersion with few aggregations were confirmed by SEM micrographs. Excellent interfacial interaction between the polymer layer and functionalized filler was confirmed as the loading amount of filler increases with a change of surface morphologies and enhancement of other properties. The tensile strength and modulus of PU nanocomposite with 3% loading amount of filler were found to be 43.7 MPa and 32.6 MPa respectively, when compared to neat-PU. The chemical and physical interaction between the functional group of MWCNTs and the PUs matrix plays a pivoted role to enhance its tensile properties and thermal stabilities and conductivty. Almost 98–100% shape recovery was observed for all the samples with repeatability without any change in nanocomposite properties and strength. The recovery time of nanocomposites with 2% filler loading was reduced near;y three folds and the tensile modulus was increased more than threefold compared to pristine-PU, which favors the applications of these materials in aeronautics and auto-body parts.