Poster: Effects on Mechanophore Activation by Location in Lamellar Microphase Separated Triblock Copolymers

Increase in research on force-responsive molecules (mechanophores) has led to increased interest in finding a bulk system that can achieve high activation. Current research is focused on improving the low activation efficiency of mechanophores in elastomer networks. However, recent research placing mechanophores in lamellar microphase separated triblock copolymers has indicated higher activation efficiency. In this study, the effects of the location of mechanophores in triblock copolymer systems are explored using course-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Additionally, the system is deformed with the lamella parallel, perpendicular, and at a 45-degree angle to the direction of deformation to investigate if the effects of the location change based on the direction of deformation. Deformation of the system is achieved by using a isothermal-isobaric conditions and increasing the length of one axis stepwise.