Strain Field Self-Diagnostic Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Elastomers

Advanced applications, involving high risk mechanical systems, require the in-service deformation level to be verified in order to assess their safety and reliability, providing information for repairing or replacing interventions. In the present work, a self-diagnostic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomer containing a supramolecular detection probe is proposed, enabling the strain intensity in the polymeric matrix to be identified by fluorescence detection. Turn-on fluorescence represents an efficient, sensitive, simple, and real time diagnostic tool to quantitatively detect high-strain regions for the mechanical monitoring of structural elements. The supramolecular complex—cross-linking the polymer’s chains—provides fluorescence response induced by strain even if present in a very low amount (10 –6 mol kg –1 ), completely preserving the mechanical characteristics of the matrix. The developed PDMS material is mechanically tested, and the observed fluorescence field is correlated with that obtained by theoretical and numerical simulations as well as by contactless measurements performed via the digital image correlation (DIC) technique.