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A team from the Klausen, Nelson, Kulik, and Craig labs report a novel chemical design for accelerated mechanochemical bond scission based on replacing a single carbon atom in a crosslinker with a silicon atom. They show seamless incorporation of these scissile carbosilanes to toughen 3D-printed networks, which demonstrates their suitability for additive manufacturing processes. Article Link

A team from the Gong and Rubinstein labs report demonstrate how weak bonds can be leveraged to achieve self-strengthening in polymer network materials. These weak sacrificial bonds trigger mechanochemical reactions, forming new networks rapidly enough to reinforce the material during deformation and significantly improve crack resistance. Article Link

The NSF MONET team traveled to Durham, NC for the Year 4 Annual meeting and sponsor review. Over three days we presented the work accomplished so far and discussed ideas for the future. These are invaluable opportunities for face to face interactions and lead to great new collaborations!

Craig and Rubinstein discuss how reducing the crosslink density in highly entangled natural rubber increases its crack resistance and prolongs its useful life. Article Link

NSF MONET hosted an industry career with our trainees and industrial partners. Topics covered include: What does it take to bridge academic research and real-world impact? How are technical skills in academia translated into a rewarding industry career? What was the most significant change in the way you do research (academia vs. industry)? What was (or was not) effective in your job search process? How to maintain professional network connections beyond the initial meeting? How do you anticipate AI changing the field? How has your work-life balance changed from academia to industry?

The GRFP provides stipend and tuition support for a three-year period to individuals who have demonstrated their potent Congratulations Jolly!

A team from the Kalow and Olvera de la Cruz labs establish rheological isotope effects (RIEs) as a new tool for studying dynamic covalent exchange in bulk networks. RIEs present new opportunities to study mechanisms of exchange in bulk networks, deconvolute modes of stress relaxation in complex CANs, and provide insight into the impact of defects on viscoelasticity. Article Link

A team from the Kulik and Craig labs report the computational, machine learning guided discovery of synthesizable ferrocene mechanophores. The work establishes a generalizable framework for the high-throughput discovery and rational design of mechanophores and offers insights into structure–activity relationships in mechanically responsive materials. Article Link

A team from the Craig, Rubinstein, Sottos, and Gong labs report the impact of fused ring size in bicyclic cyclobutane mechanophores within the strands of polymer network gels. They observe the first evidence of covalent reactive strand extension (RSE) effects in a single-network gel, and strands with greater RSE lead to gels with greater stretchability and toughness. Article Link

A team from the Olvera de la Cruz and Campos labs develop a mean-field framework that connects microscopic bond reactions and molecular packing-induced conformational changes to macroscopic elastic behavior. The work provides a predictive platform for designing responsive and adaptive polymer networks with tailored properties. Article Link

A team from the Olsen and Rubinstein labs, in collaboration with others at University of Campinas and University of South Florida, extend BigSMILES to accommodate nonatomic particles, enabling it to represent coarse-grained models of polymers in a manner directly analogous to atomic structures. The new syntax coarse-grained BigSMILES (CG-BigSMILES) combines a layer-based annotation with linking to force field files to capture both chemical structures and interacting potentials. Article Link

A team from the Moore lab presents a systematic workflow aimed at facilitating the design and discovery of new mechanophores. By integrating the classic iso-metrical CoGEF approach with the iso-tensional Tension Model of Bond Activation (TMBA) simulation, the workflow enables comprehensive evaluation of mechanophore candidates prior to experimental implementation for efficient identification and filtering away of unexpected issues while providing insights for potential structural optimization. Article Link