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Going with the Flow: Tunable Flow-Induced Polymer Mechanochemistry

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Baumann, C 
Aljohani, TA 
Göstl, R 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pMechanical forces can drive chemical transformations in polymers, directing reactions along otherwise inaccessible pathways, providing exciting possibilities for developing smart, responsive materials. The state‐of‐the‐art test for solution‐based polymer mechanochemistry development is ultrasonication. However, this does not accurately model the forces that will be applied during device fabrication using processes such as 3D printing or spray coating. Here, a step is taken toward predictably translating mechanochemistry from molecular design to manufacturing by demonstrating a highly controlled nozzle flow setup in which the shear forces being delivered are precisely tuned. The results show that solvent viscosity, fluid strain rate, and the nature of the breaking bond can be individually studied. Importantly, it is shown that the influence of each is different to that suggested by ultrasonication (altered quantity of chain breakage and critical polymer chain length). Significant development is presented in the understanding of polymer bond breakage during manufacturing flows to help guide design of active components that trigger on demand. Using an anthracene‐based mechanophore, the triggering of a fluorescence turn‐on is demonstrated through careful selection of the flow parameters. This work opens the avenue for programmed chemical transformations during inline manufacturing processes leading to tunable, heterogeneous final products from a single source material.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

fluid strain rate, manufacturing flow, mechanophores, nozzle flow, polymer mechanochemistry

Journal Title

Advanced Functional Materials

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1616-301X
1616-3028

Volume Title

30

Publisher

Wiley

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) (unknown)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/S009000/1)