The shape memory properties of sulfur crosslinked natural rubber/beeswax (NR/BW) bio-blends and nanocomposites at three blending compositions (8:2, 6:4, and 4:6) were investigated. The melting temperature of beeswax was used as the switching temperature in the one-way shape memory process. The addition of multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) into the NR/BW matrix was helpful in not only improving the beeswax dispersion but also serving the near-infrared absorber to remotely trigger the shape memory process. Most surprisingly, the crystal orientation of beeswax in the natural rubber matrix was parallel to the stretching direction. In addition, the NR/BW blends and nanocomposites demonstrated the THF and acetone solvent vapor-triggered reversible shape memory behavior, which was hardly achieved without applying external stress and pre-soaking treatment as seen in the literature. This simple blending approach offers tremendous possibilities to prepare bio-based blends and nanocomposites with reversible shape memory properties.

研究了硫交联的天然橡胶/蜂蜡（NR / BW）生物共混物和纳米复合材料在三种混合组分（8：2、6：4和4：6）下的形状记忆性能。在单向形状记忆过程中，将蜂蜡的熔化温度用作切换温度。在NR / BW基体中添加多壁碳纳米管（CNT）不仅有助于改善蜂蜡的分散性，而且还有助于近红外吸收剂远程触发形状记忆过程。最令人惊讶的是，天然橡胶基质中蜂蜡的晶体取向平行于拉伸方向。此外，NR / BW共混物和纳米复合材料还证明了THF和丙酮溶剂蒸气触发的可逆形状记忆行为，如文献所示，如果不施加外部压力和预浸泡处理，几乎无法实现这一点。这种简单的混合方法为制备具有可逆形状记忆特性的生物基混合物和纳米复合材料提供了巨大的可能性。