Modeling of viscoelastic behavior of a shape memory polymer blend
Abir Ben Abdallah, Achraf Kallel, Tarek Hassine, Fehmi Gamaoun, Abbas Tcharkhtchi
Abstract
Abstract Shape memory effect (SME) of polymers is a property that concerns both, macroscopic and microscopic changes. The variation of internal polymer properties such, as molecular weight ( M w ), rigidity, and viscoelasticity could alter its SME. In this study, a bi‐parabolic model with six parameters is used to describe the viscoelastic behavior of a shape memory polymer (SMP) blend (40% poly(caprolactone), PCL/60% Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene) with different PCL M w . These parameters are determined using the Cole–Cole method. Modeling curves ( E ″ = f ( E ′)) will be then compared to experimental data from dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) tests. It is shown that the bi‐parabolic model predicts well the behavior of the SMP mixture for different M w of PCL. Afterwards, the evolution of the model parameters with the M w of PCL is investigated. It is revealed that, when M w of PCL drops, the relaxation modulus E 0 increases. This result proves that the rigidity of the SMP blend rises with M w declines.