Reinforcing a polymer by mechanical disruption is a concept that has yet to be deeply probed. We have recently seen that atom-transfer radical-polymerization (ATRP) can be controlled by the piezoelectric reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) by BaTiO<sub>3</sub>. To expand this idea beyond ATRP, we tested the copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) with the piezo-reduction. We synthesized both azide- and alkyne-containing acrylate polymers by radical addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. These materials can be strengthened by the inclusion of piezoelectric nanoparticles in copolymers that contain azide and alkyne moieties. When a shearing force is applied, the piezoelectric nanoparticles eject an electron that reduces Cu(II) to Cu(I) and CuAAC chemistry occurs. We monitored this reaction by IR and NMR and observed the expected changes in the spectra. Mechanical testing further demonstrated the structural changes as a result of crosslinking. These polymers will provide a novel platform for studying material responses to mechanical stress, and can be used for a variety of engineering applications.

Crosslinking acrylate-containing polymers by downstream piezoelectric reduction

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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