Surface modification and characterization of waste derived carbon particles to reinforce photo-cured shape memory composites

Carbon fillers have been a source of inspiration to accommodate a range of surface chemistries for different applications. In this study different surface chemistries have been compared for shape memory effect on polymeric composites. Sugar industry waste (fly ash) has been utilized to prepare carbon particles named FCB. Surface modification of FCB has been done in two steps, oxidation and thiolation, respectively. In the first step, different reagents have been used to anchor the surface of FCB with oxygenated functionalities. In the second step, oxygenated FCB has been treated with a thiolating agent to covalently link thio groups on its surface. Polymeric composites have been photo cured with both types of particles, separately. A thermal actuation study has been carried out to check the shape recovery behavior of the composites. A quick shape recovery has been observed for thiolated FCB composites, due to thio linkages in the polymeric network. Samples have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance (ATR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), pH, conductivity, acid content particle dispersion, and composite gel content.