Light-stimulated Permanent Shape Reconfiguration in Crosslinked Polymer Microparticles

Published

April 7, 2017

Author(s)

Lewis M. Cox, Xiaohao Sun, Chen Wang, Nancy Sowan, Jason Killgore, Rong Long, Hengan Wu, Christopher N. Bowman, Yifu Ding

Abstract

Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) are cross-linked polymer networks capable reconfiguring their network topology, enabling stress relaxation and shape changing behaviors. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) is one specific mechanism by covalent bonds may be broken and reformed in a polymer network and has demonstrated the ability to generate sub- micron surface patterns on bulk CAN films. While stress relaxation behavior has been studied in bulk materials and film surfaces, here we characterize the ability of RAFT-based CAN microspheres to deform and fix non-spherical geometries. We provide the first demonstration of rubbery microspheres exhibiting a permanent change in their overall shape as well as their surface topography.

Citation

Advanced Materials

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Smart Particles, Shape Reconfiguration, Covalent Adaptive Network, Photoplasticity

Citation

Cox, L. , Sun, X. , Wang, C. , Sowan, N. , Killgore, J. , Long, R. , Wu, H. , Bowman, C. and Ding, Y. (2017), Light-stimulated Permanent Shape Reconfiguration in Crosslinked Polymer Microparticles, Advanced Materials (Accessed October 13, 2025)