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Segmented Polyurethane Elastomers with Mechanochromic and Self‐Strengthening Functions
Author(s) -
Seshimo Kota,
Sakai Hio,
Watabe Takuma,
Aoki Daisuke,
Sugita Hajime,
Mikami Koichiro,
Mao Yuchen,
Ishigami Akira,
Nishitsuji Shotaro,
Kurose Takashi,
Ito Hiroshi,
Otsuka Hideyuki
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202015196
Subject(s) - elastomer , monomer , materials science , radical , methacrylate , polymerization , polymer chemistry , methyl methacrylate , radical polymerization , polyurethane , polymer , polymer science , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry
Mechanochromic elastomers that exhibit force‐induced cross‐linking reactions in the bulk state are introduced. The synthesis of segmented polyurethanes (SPUs) that contain difluorenylsuccinonitrile (DFSN) moieties in the main chain and methacryloyl groups in the side chains was carried out. DFSN was selected as the mechanophore because it dissociates under mechanical stimuli to form pink cyanofluorene (CF) radicals, which can also initiate the radical polymerization of methacrylate monomers. The obtained elastomers generated CF radicals and changed color by compression or extension; they also became insoluble due to the mechanically induced cross‐linking reactions. Additionally, an SPU containing diphenylmethane units also exhibited highly sensitive mechanofluorescence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate damage detection ability and changes in the mechanical properties of bulk elastomers induced by simple compression or extension.