Mechanics of Emerging Polymers with Unprecedented Networks

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials have been extensively used in aerospace, petrochemical, environment and energy industries. Comparing to classical metallic materials, polymers demonstrate some interesting and unique mechanical properties. In particular, polymers with dynamic bonds have shown great capability in adapting their environment and exhibiting unprecedented properties, such as high-toughness, self-healing, and mechanochromism. In this emerging field, dynamic bonds, including reversible covalent bonds and non-covalent bonds (such as ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, metal–ligand coordinations and hydrophobic interactions), have been utilized to program macroscopic responses of polymers by regulating their molecular architectures. From a fundamental perspective, development of predictive models that connect the macroscopic mechanical behavior of these polymers to the corresponding molecular mechanisms is a challenging endeavor. This Special Issue will address recent experimental, computational and theoretical advances in this burgeoning field. Topics of particular interest include: (a) tough hydrogels and elastomers; (b) self-healing polymers; (c) mechanochemically responsive polymers; (d) covalently adaptable polymers; (e) photoresponsive polymers; and (f) electromagnetically responsive polymers. The goal of this Special Issue is to bring together researchers with a variety of backgrounds to exchange ideas, identify and address grand challenges, and to initiate new areas of research.

Dr. Ying Li
Dr. Qiming Wang
Dr. Franck Vernerey
Guest Editors

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