Patterned plastics that change physical structure in response to applied chemical signals

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Abstract

This Communication describes a strategy for designing stimuli-responsive plastics that are capable of responding to chemical signals in the environment by changing shape. The plastics consist of patterned mixtures of poly(phthalaldehyde) polymers in which each polymer contains a different end-capping group, or "trigger". Each polymer within the plastic is capable of responding to a different signal and depolymerizing once the signal reacts with the trigger. This process of depolymerization enables the plastic to alter its physical features quickly and with a magnitude that depends on the length of the responsive polymer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9234-9235
Number of pages2
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume132
Issue number27
DOIs
StatePublished - 14 Jul 2010

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