Stress-Strengthening Synthetic Polymers by Covalent Mechanochemistry
Abstract
Synthetic materials typically break down in response to the repeated cycles of mechanical load and stress that they experience during use. In polymer solutions, for example, shear-induced bond breaking reduces molecular weight and leads to a loss in viscosity, a problem that plagues oils and lubricants in high-performance engines. In solids, stress-induced bond scission or chain slippage can trigger micro-cracks that propagate and eventually lead to material failure. Many biological materials, however, remodel and become stronger in direct response to the mechanical forces that otherwise might cause them to fail. Bone and muscle, for example, build mass and strength when subjected to load, and wood and hair respond to force induced bond breaking at the molecular level by forming new bonds in the strained conformation, resulting in a net increase in strength. This project encompasses the design and synthesis of a family of synthetic polymers that channels the destructive energy responsible for bond scission into constructive, localized, bond-forming reactions that strengthen, rather than weaken, a polymeric material.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 25, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1228708
Entities
People
- Stephen L Craig
Organizations
- Duke University