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Posted on: 1/1/2013 12:00:00 AM... In a game of molecular tug-of war, some strings of atoms can act like a lever, accelerating reactions significantly faster than other molecules. The discovery suggests that scientists could use these molecular levers to drive chemical and mechanical reactivity among atoms, ultimately engineering more efficient materials.

In recent experiments, a Duke University team found that a molecule made with a polynorbornene backbone can act as a lever to open a ring embedded within the molecule a thousand times faster than a similar ring being tugged at on a polybutadiene scaffold. The results, published in Nature Chemistry, suggest that a simple change in the backbone may affect how fast mechanically assisted reactions occur.

These findings are interesting, since many materials break down after repeated cycles of tugging, stress, and other forces. The research team noted that if usually destructive forces can be channeled into constructive pathways, reactions could be triggered that would make the materials stronger when and where it is most useful. The material’s lifetime could then possibly be extended, which could impact on a wide range of applications, including composites for airplane frames and biomedical implants.

For More Information:

• Read "A Backbone Lever Arm Effect Enhances Polymer Mechanochemistry"

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