Shape memory behavior of epoxy-based model materials: Tailoring approaches and thermo-mechanical modeling

A series of structurally related epoxy resins were prepared as model systems for the investigation of the shape memory response, with the aim to assess the possibility of tailoring their thermo-mechanical response and conveniently describing their strain evolution under triggering stimuli with a simple thermoviscoelastic model. The resins formulation was varied in order to obtain systems with controlled glass transition temperature and crosslink density. The shape memory response was investigated by means of properly designed thermo-mechanical cycles, which allowed to measure both the ability to fully recover the applied strain and to exert a stress on a confining medium. The results were also compared with the predictions obtained by finite element simulations of the thermo-mechanical cycle by the employ of a model whose parameters were implemented from classical DMA analysis.