Deformation-Induced Color Changes in Mechanochromic Polyethylene Blends

A detailed and systematic investigation of mechanochromic, melt-processed blends between a series of polyethylenes (PE) with crystallinities ranging from 9 to 66% and two excimer-forming, photoluminescent oligo(phenylenevinylene) dyes is described. A dramatic increase in the nucleation rate of dye a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Macromolecules 2007-04, Vol.40 (7), p.2400-2408
Main Authors: Crenshaw, Brent R, Burnworth, Mark, Khariwala, Devang, Hiltner, Anne, Mather, Patrick T, Simha, Robert, Weder, Christoph
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Electrical, magnetic and optical properties
Exact sciences and technology
Organic polymers
Physicochemistry of polymers
Properties and characterization
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Summary:A detailed and systematic investigation of mechanochromic, melt-processed blends between a series of polyethylenes (PE) with crystallinities ranging from 9 to 66% and two excimer-forming, photoluminescent oligo(phenylenevinylene) dyes is described. A dramatic increase in the nucleation rate of dye aggregates, and therewith a decrease in the size of the aggregates, is observed upon grafting long alkyl tails onto the chromophore. The extent of color change observed upon deformation of these materials, and thus the ability of the polymer host to break up dye aggregates upon deformation, is related to the plastic deformation process of PE crystallitesspecifically those arranged in a lamellar morphologyand increases with increasing polymer crystallinity, decreasing dye aggregate size, and decreasing rates of deformation.
ISSN:0024-9297
1520-5835
DOI:10.1021/ma062936j