Shape Memory-Metal Rubber™ Morphing Aircraft Skins

This paper discusses electrically conductive, shape changing, elastomeric nanocomposites capable of surviving repeated mechanical strains while remaining highly electrically conductive. Morphing nanocomposites were formed in-situ by chemically reacting monolayers of well defined, electrically conductive, nanostructured constituents with high performance shape memory copolymers. In this study, electrical conductivity was investigated as a function of volume fraction of nanoparticles and processing conditions. It was found that self-assembly processing results in percolation and surface resistivity of <1 Ohm/square with <0.01 volume % of metal nanoparticles. Waveguide measurements verified electrical stability of the thermoresponsive nanocomposites. The conclusion is that ultra-low mass density <0.99 g/cc skins formed via layer-by-layer processing exhibit electromagnetic integrity before, during and after shape change; when simulating disparate configurations that may be required on future morphing unmanned aerial vehicles.