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Environmentally-controlled Microtensile Testing of Mechanically-adaptive Polymer Nanocomposites for ex vivo Characterization
Published on: August 20, 2013
Environmentally responsive photonic polymers
Ellen P A van Heeswijk1, Augustinus J J Kragt1, Nadia Grossiord2
1Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. A.P.H.J.Schenning@tue.nl and SCNU-TUE Joint Laboratory of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, South China Normal University, 510006 Guangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Stimulus-responsive photonic polymer materials that change their reflection colour as function of environmental stimuli such as temperature, humidity and light, are attractive for various applications (e.g. sensors, smart windows and communication). Polymers provide low density, tunable and patternable materials. This feature article focusses on various autonomously responding photonic polymer materials such as hydrogels, block copolymers and liquid crystals and discusses their potential industrial implementation.
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