Speaker: Prof. Costantino Creton （ESPCI, Paris）

Time: January 7th, 2025 4:00 PM

Location: Lecture Room 324, AISMST

Abstract:

In recent years mechanochemistry has imposed itself asa novel promising chemical tool to bridge the gap between polymer physics andcontinuum mechanics in soft materials. The suitable incorporation offorce-sensitive molecules (mechanophores) in load-bearing positions in soft(entropic) polymer networks and in linear chains has provided a tool to detectstresses and bond scission in 2D and 3D through the intensity of an opticalsignal. We will present recent results linking the optical signal detected uponactivation of the mechanophore with the applied mechanical load. Recentinvestigations address questions of stress field detection and quantificationand quantitative damage by bond scission during crack propagation in continuousloading and crack initiation. We will also discuss the requirements to go fromsimple imaging to quantitative detection, for comparisons between differentmaterials and calibration of continuum mechanics models.

BriefBiography:

CostantinoCreton graduated in Materials Science from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale deLausanne (Switzerland) in 1985. He then moved on to the Materials Science andEngineering Department of Cornell University (USA) where he obtained his Ph.Din 1991. After a post-doc at the IBM Almaden Research Center (USA), he joinedthe Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie Structurale et Macromoléculaire of the ESPCIParis first as a post-doctoral associate in 1993 and, since 1994 as a CNRSpermanent researcher. He was promoted CNRS research director (equivalent toProfessor) in 2001 in the Laboratory of Soft Matter Science and Engineering.Since 2009, he is coordinating the research activities of the Soft PolymerNetworks research group of the laboratory. He also holds since 2011 theposition of scientific chairman of the Performance Polymers technology area ofthe Dutch Polymer Institute and has been appointed in 2016, DistinguishedProfessor at the Global Station for Soft Matter of Hokkaido University. Since May 2019 he is also the vice-presidentresearch of the ESPCI Paris-PSL. He has published more than 220 articles inpeer-reviewed journals, 13 book chapters and has given more than 120 invitedand plenary lectures at international conferences. His research interests focuson the mechanical properties of polymers at interfaces and on deformation andfracture of soft polymer networks.