Force-induced strengthening of a mechanochromic polymer based on a naphthalene-fused cyclobutane mechanophore

Abstract

We discovered a force-induced strengthening of a mechanochromic polymer based on a naphthalene-fused cyclobutane mechanophore (NCD). Our results revealed that mechanically induced retro-cycloaddition of the NCD and subsequent crosslinking reactions between CC bonds were responsible for this peculiar strenghthening, and demonstrated the good possibility that the NCD can be applied in smart materials fields.