Abstract
Enhanced force transmission to mechanophores is demonstrated in polymer nanocomposite materials. Spiropyran (SP) mechanophores that change color and fluorescence under mechanical stimuli are functionalized at the interface between SiO2 nanoparticles and polymers. Successful mechanical activation of SP at the interface is confirmed in both solution and solid states. Compared with SP‐linked in bulk polymers, interfacial activation induces greater conversion of SP to its colored merocyanine form and also significantly decreases the activation threshold under tension. Experimental observations are supported by finite element simulation of the interfacial stress state. The interfacial force‐focusing strategy opens a new way to control the reactivity of mechanophores and also potentially indicates interfacial damage in composite materials.
Highlights
Enhanced force transmission to mechanophores is demonstrated in polymer reactions, we need to better understand how the macroscopic force is transferred nanocomposite materials
In a dilute polymer solution under extensional flow field, the force is maximum at the center of the polymer chain, and can enhance mechanophore activation.[12,13,14]
We found that attached PMA on the SiO2 has a higher glass transition temperature than free PMA with the same molecular weight (Figure S6, Supporting Information)
Summary
Enhanced force transmission to mechanophores is demonstrated in polymer reactions, we need to better understand how the macroscopic force is transferred nanocomposite materials. Is a control specimen in which 5 is covalently linked with SiO2 and PMA, but the transferred force cannot break spiro junction that causes the change in color and fluorescence.
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