ABSTRACT
The current focus of research into shape memory polymer composites is oriented toward improving recovery stress, recovery speed, and inertness to electromagnetic stimuli. To overcome these limitations, fillers are added to improve the rubbery moduli and thermal and electrical conductivities. Thermally activated actuators can offer large strains at the expense of large amounts of energy and slow response. Organic polymers that conduct electricity are called conductive polymers, and since the property is inbuilt, they are intrinsically conductive polymers. In order to show electrical conductivity, a polymer has to mimic a natural conductorby allowing electrons to move freely inside it. The component monomers having conjugated chemical bonds under certain conditions ensures the electron conductivity of the polymer. Conductive filler materials in the form of fibers or powder enhance the heat transfer in the bulk matrix of the polymer and thus facilitate electrical conduction.
