Duration: 3 months
4D Printing is an innovative technique that adds a fourth dimension, namely time, to traditional Additive Manufacturing (AM) enabling materials to modify their shape in response to an external stimulus. Amidst these materials, Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs) with temperature responsiveness are generally considered the most promising for engineering applications. This feature is conferred by particular microstructure which can be summarized in combination of soft and hard chain segments. This structure allows SMPs to exhibit two characteristic shapes: a permanent shape set during manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing) and a temporary shape achieved by deforming the material above its glass transition temperature (Tg). When reheated above this threshold, the material reverts to its original shape, harnessing the shape-memory effect. SMPs could be employed in the aerospace industry as space mechanisms, as they can effectively deploy structures such as antennas and solar panels. The possibility to achieve mechanical actuation with a single component, resulting in lower cost, lower complexity and higher reliability, is the main drive for this application . However, aerospace applications impose stringent requirements, including resistance to outgassing and degradation, demanding for space-compliant materials. High performance polymers (i.e. Poly-ether-ether-ketone, PEEK) are invaluable options due to their high mechanical and thermal properties, combined with low density. Their characteristics make them space compliant and suitable for space mechanisms. Despite these advantages, PEEK lacks the shape-memory property; to overcome this limitation, blending PEEK with other high-performance polymers is essential. In this proposal, direct heating will be performed with furnaces, while indirect heating methods will be investigated, using appropriate fillers. PEEK-based blends’ behaviour in space environment will be investigated to validate the feasibility of the project.
