Unbreakable Design: The Polymer Mechanochemistry of Self-Healing Materials

Jeff Moore of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will introduce you to the mechanophore hypothesis, including the history of polymer mechanochemistry over the past two decades. Then, Steve Craig of Duke University will share several examples of materials-chemistry interplay in polymer mechanochemistry. These case studies will highlight how scientists can harness the intrinsic strength of polymers to delve into, shape, and potentially redefine the underlying principles of reactivity, and use embedded mechanochemical reactions to probe, influence, and even rewrite the performance rules of polymeric materials.

Following these examples, Jeff Moore will conclude the webinar by sharing a recently developed tool/framework that can help scientists approach designing mechanophores that are thermally stable but mechanochemically active, paving the way for mechanoresponsive functions in polymeric materials. Discover how polymers have transitioned from a history of degradation to a future where mechanical adaptability is opening avenues for materials that heal themselves, warn of high stress or can even repair electrical circuits.

This ACS Webinar is moderated by Junpeng Wang of the University of Akron and is co-produced with the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry.

What You Will Learn

• Historical perspectives on polymer mechanochemistry
• How the mechanophore hypothesis impacts selective and beneficial mechanochemistry in polymers
• Why polymer mechanochemistry has a solid and quantitative foundation very much aligned with familiar reactivity principles
• How the presence of mechanochemical reactions can have a profound and productive impact on polymer performance
• Why embedding reactions in stretched polymeric materials can change the outcome of those reactions
• The restoring force triangle as a mnemonic tool for mechanophore design

Meet The Experts

Stanley O. Ikenberry, Research Professor of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Stephen Craig, William T. Miller Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Duke University

Junpeng Wang, Assistant Professor of Polymer Science, University of Akron