Mechanochromic polymer blends made with an excimer-forming telechelic sensor molecule.

ABSTRACT: The ability to monitor mechanical stresses and strains in polymers via an optical signal enables the investigation of deformation processes in such materials and is technologically useful for sensing damage and failure in critical components. We show here that this can be achieved by simply blending polymers of interest with a small amount of a mechanochromic luminescent additive (Py-PEB) that can be accessed in one step by end-functionalizing a telechelic poly(ethylene-co-butylene) (PEB) with excimer-forming pyrenes. Py-PEB is poorly miscible with polar polymers, such as poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(urethane), so that blends undergo microphase separation even at low additive concentrations (0.1-1 wt%), and the emission is excimer-dominated. Upon deformation, the ratio of ex

SUBMITTER: Oggioni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10900888 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature