title: Shockwave loading of mechanochemically active polymer coatings.
abstract: Thin films of mechanochemically active polymer were subjected to laser-generated, high amplitude acoustic pulses. Stress wave propagation through the film produced large amplitude stresses (>100 MPa) in short time frames (10-20 ns), leading to very high strain rates (ca. 1 × 10(7) to 1 × 10(8) s(-1)). The polymer system, spiropyran (SP)-linked polystyrene (PS), undergoes a force-induced chemical reaction causing fluorescence and color change. Activation of SP was evident via a fluorescence signal in thin films subject to high strain-rates. In contrast, quasi-static loading of bulk SP-linked PS samples failed to result in SP activation. Mechanoresponsive coatings have potential to indicate deformation under shockwave loading conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1206 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
authors.forename: Martha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Grady
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Beiermann
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Sottos