Enhancing covalent mechanochemistry in bulk polymers using electrospun ABA triblock copolymers

The mechanochemical activation of covalent bonds in bulk polymers is often characterized by low conversions. Here we report that the activation of gem-dibromocyclopropane (gDBC) mechanophores embedded in a poly(1,4-butadiene) (PB) is enhanced when a central gDBC-PB block is flanked by two polystyrene (PS) end blocks in an ABA-type triblock architecture. Electrospinning the PS-(gDBC) PB-PS leads to even greater activation in aligned fiber mats under tension.