POS3-0621
Joule Heating-Triggered Shape Memory Polymer Composites via CNT Fiber Integration and Multi-Resin Patterning for Self-Deployable Structures
When and Where
Nov 30, -0001
12:00am - 12:00am
Presenter(s)
Jung Uk Yun (Pusan National University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Deployable structures have attracted significant attention in aerospace applications owing to their high volumetric packaging efficiency. However, conventional soft-robotics-based approaches achieve flexibility at the expense of mechanical stiffness, limiting their applicability to load-bearing aerospace structures. To overcome this limitation, this study presents a self-deployable continuous fiber-reinforced composite fabricated via a novel multi-resin patterning process, in which a high-modulus epoxy and a shape memory polymer (SMP) were selectively applied to the panel and hinge regions, respectively. A Triangulated Cylindrical Origami (TCO) structure was adopted to realize the self-deployment behavior. Carbon nanotube fiber (CNTF) was embedded directly into the fiber preform as an ultralight electrothermal actuator, enabling autonomous Joule heating without external heat sources and making the system well-suited for power-constrained aerospace environments. Electrothermal characterization of the fabricated composite revealed a stable and uniform temperature rise above the glass transition temperature of the SMP. Upon Joule heating, the rigid panel regions retained their original shape, whereas the hinge regions exhibited selective shape recovery, confirming the coupled operation of electrothermal actuation and structural deformation. These results demonstrate the feasibility of self-deployable fiber-reinforced composites enabled by CNTF-based electrothermal actuation and multi-resin patterning. Future work will focus on large-scale structural expansion and the evaluation of cyclic actuation reliability for practical aerospace applications.
