Thermomechanical properties and shape memory effect of epoxidized natural rubber crosslinked by 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole

Abstract A thermally induced shape memory polymer based on epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) was produced by curing the ENR with 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole as a crosslinker in the presence of bisphenol‐A as a catalyst. Dynamic mechanical and tensile analysis was conducted to examine the variation of glass transition temperature, stiffness, and extensibility of the vulcanizates with the amount of curatives. Shape memory properties of the ENR vulcanizates were characterized by shape retention and shape recovery. It was revealed that the glass transition temperature of the ENR vulcanizates could be tuned well above room temperature by increasing the amount of curing agents. Also, ENR vulcanizates with T g higher than ambient temperature showed good shape memory effects under 100% elongation, and the response temperatures of the recovery were well matched with T g of the samples. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry