Descripción del proyecto
Los mecanosensores ponen de manifiesto las deformaciones y rupturas de enlaces en redes de polímeros blandos
Los materiales poliméricos blandos como, por ejemplo, los polímeros y elastómeros sensibles a estímulos, están revolucionando aplicaciones en campos como la robótica, la electrónica de consumo y los sistemas de energías renovables. Las redes poliméricas basadas en más de un polímero aumentarán estas posibilidades. El equipo del proyecto SOFTBREAK, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, utilizará sus innovadores mecanosensores en experimentos físicos punteros, combinados con una modelización avanzada, para describir los mecanismos microscópicos de fallo de los materiales poliméricos blandos,de los que se sabe muy poco. Los mecanosensores, moléculas que cambian de color en respuesta a una fuerza o emiten luz cuando se rompen, permitirán cartografiar en tiempo real la distribución espacial tanto de las deformaciones como de las roturas de enlaces. Los resultados harán avanzar la física de la fractura y contribuirán al diseño de materiales superiores.
Objetivo
The microscopic mechanisms that lead to mechanical failure of soft polymer materials are still poorly understood. The main reason for this is a lack of experimental tools to prepare well-controlled model systems and to observe the failure process in real time at the microscopic scale. Here, I propose to fill this gap by taking a multidisciplinary approach that combines innovative chemical tools with state-of-the art physical experiments and modelling. Previous work in my group has led to the development of polymer networks with extremely well-controlled architecture and bond strength, and of various tools to study their structure and mechanics. Here, I will take advantage of this expertise to systematically unravel the microscopic physics of failure of polymer networks.
To visualize how the failure process proceeds, we will make use of recently developed mechanosensors, molecules that change colour in response to a force or that emit light when they break. These chemical tools will allow us to map in real time the spatial distribution of both strains and bond rupture events. Together with computer simulations carried out in parallel, this will give us unprecedented insight in the microscopic processes that occur during failure of the material, from the very first bonds that rupture, to the gradual accumulation of damage, all the way to macroscopic failure. We will use this to address the following unresolved questions about failure of polymer networks:
1. What is the microscopic mechanism that leads to delayed failure of polymer networks at subcritical loads?
2. How does the initiation of failure depend on the material's heterogeneity?
3. How does failure occur in a network with transient (viscoelastic) bonds?
The project will not only provide detailed insight in the physics of failure of polymer networks, but it will also shed light on fracture physics in general. Finally, it will help material scientists to design new materials with superior properties.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolors
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
- natural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantInstitución de acogida
6708 PB Wageningen
Países Bajos