Force-induced activation of covalent bonds in mechanoresponsive polymeric materials

Douglas A. Davis, Andrew Hamilton, Jinglei Yang, Lee D. Cremar, Dara Van Gough, Stephanie L. Potisek, Mitchell T. Ong, Paul V. Braun, Todd J. Martínez, Scott R. White, Jeffrey S. Moore and Nancy R. Sottos ()
Additional contact information
Douglas A. Davis: Department of Chemistry,
Andrew Hamilton: Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering,
Jinglei Yang: The Beckman Institute,
Lee D. Cremar: Department of Chemistry,
Dara Van Gough: Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Stephanie L. Potisek: Department of Chemistry,
Mitchell T. Ong: Department of Chemistry,
Paul V. Braun: Department of Chemistry,
Todd J. Martínez: Department of Chemistry,
Scott R. White: The Beckman Institute,
Jeffrey S. Moore: Department of Chemistry,
Nancy R. Sottos: The Beckman Institute,

Nature, 2009, vol. 459, issue 7243, 68-72

Abstract: Force-responsive polymers Biology is replete with materials systems that actively and functionally respond to mechanical stimuli and thereby enable physiological processes such as the sense of touch, hearing or the growth of tissue and bone. In contrast, exposing polymers to large stresses tends to result in covalent bond rupture and hence damage or failure. Davis et al. now demonstrate that synthetic materials can be rationally designed to ensure that mechanical stress alters their properties in a useful manner. This is realized by incorporating a chemical group that responds to mechanical stress by changing its colour to red as it undergoes a ring-opening reaction, enabling the team to directly monitor the accumulation of plastic deformation. The principles underpinning this work should enable the development of other force-responsive chemical groups that could impart synthetic materials with desirable functionalities ranging from damage sensing to fully regenerative self-healing.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1038/nature07970

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