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Mechanochemistry

Polymers react to stress

The latest polymers are chameleon-like: they change colour on deformation. The transduction mechanism underpinning this effect could be used to make polymers that respond in many other ways to mechanical stress.

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Figure 1: Red for danger.

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Weder, C. Polymers react to stress. Nature 459, 45–46 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/459045a

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