Facile fabrication of foamed natural Eucommia ulmoides gum composites with heat‐triggered shape memory behavior

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a type of smart material with potential application in aerospace engineering, biomedical devices, and sensors. In this article, we propose a new technique for the preparation of foamed Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) composites, which have excellent one‐way and two‐way shape memory performances. The advantages of these foamed composites are not only light weight but also good shape memory performance. For their remarkably light weight, large deformation, and efficient cost, these composites are expected to be a kind of popular smart materials in the future. We studied the properties of foamed composites via mechanical measurements, swelling experiments, thermal analysis and shape memory analysis, hoping to establish the relationship between the microstructure and macroscopic properties of composites. The results showed that the composites with 0.4 phr sulfur had superior one‐way shape memory properties and moderate mechanical properties. In the two‐way shape memory tests, the composites performed excellent two‐way shape memory properties with the applied stress ranging from 200 to 350 KPa. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3075–3083, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers