Mechanochromic Branched Polyethylenes Synthesized through Ring-opening Metathesis Terpolymerization

Yan-Lin Zong; Yi-Xin Zhang; Zhong-Bao Jian

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3337-3

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Mechanochromic Branched Polyethylenes Synthesized through Ring-opening Metathesis Terpolymerization

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-07-15

- Mechanochromic Branched Polyethylenes Synthesized through Ring-opening Metathesis Terpolymerization
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 7, Pages: 1181-1189(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
  b.School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Author bio：
  
  zhangyixin@ciac.ac.cn (Y.X. Z.)
  zbjian@ciac.ac.cn (Z.B.J.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3337-3
  CLC：
- Received：13 February 2025，
  
  Revised：2025-03-02，
  
  Accepted：12 March 2025，
  
  Online First：30 April 2025，
  
  Published：01 July 2025
- Accepted：
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Zong, Y. L.; Zhang, Y. X.; Jian, Z. B. Mechanochromic branched polyethylenes synthesized through ring-opening metathesis terpolymerization. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 1181–1189

Yan-Lin Zong, Yi-Xin Zhang, Zhong-Bao Jian. Mechanochromic Branched Polyethylenes Synthesized through Ring-opening Metathesis Terpolymerization[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(7): 1181-1189.
Zong, Y. L.; Zhang, Y. X.; Jian, Z. B. Mechanochromic branched polyethylenes synthesized through ring-opening metathesis terpolymerization. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 1181–1189 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3337-3.

Yan-Lin Zong, Yi-Xin Zhang, Zhong-Bao Jian. Mechanochromic Branched Polyethylenes Synthesized through Ring-opening Metathesis Terpolymerization[J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2025, 43(7): 1181-1189. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3337-3.

摘要

Mechanochromic branched polyethylenes were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis terpolymerization of a norbornene-based monomer derived from the dibenzofuranone system

cyclooctene and 5-hexylcyclooct-1-ene

followed with hydrogenation and crosslinking. The visible color-changing properties of these polymers under force revealed the relationship between stress and strain and color change.

Abstract

Mechanochromic polyolefins represent a novel class of functionalized polyolefins

which still remains significant challenges. Pd(II)-catalyzed coordination-insertion copolymerization is a feasible method for achieving this kind of polymers

yet with linear microstructures. Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) offers another promising avenue for affording functionalized polyolefins. This method exhibits high polar group tolerance and the ability to precisely regulate polymer branches. In this study

we report the method for producing mechanochromic branched polyethylenes

via

ROMP. By employing the terpolymerization of a well-designed monomer containing the mechanochromic group

NB-ABF

with cyclooctene (

COE)

and long-chain 5-hexylcyclooctene (

COE-C6)

following by hydrogenation process

we synthesized a range of functionalized branched polyethylenes characterized by varied branching density and polar monomer incorporation. These polymers bear a structural resemblance to functionalized ethylene-octene copolymers. After crosslinking

mechanochromophores are generated

and mechanochromism is achieve

d in uniaxial tensile testing. A comprehensive assessment reveals that both the incorporation of polar monomers and variations in branching density significantly influence their mechanical properties. Notably

upon stretching

these materials display pronounced visible color change

confirming the successful development of mechanochromic branched polyethylenes.

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