Swelling in polymer materials is a ubiquitous phenomenon.
At a
molecular level, swelling is dictated by solvent–polymer interactions,
and has been thoroughly studied both theoretically and experimentally.
Favorable solvent–polymer interactions result in the solvation
of polymer chains. For polymers in confined geometries, such as those
that are tethered to surfaces, or for polymer networks, solvation
can lead to swelling-induced tensions. These tensions act on polymer
chains and can lead to stretching, bending, or deformation of the
material both at the micro- and macroscopic scale. This Invited Feature
Article sheds light on such swelling-induced mechanochemical phenomena
in polymer materials across dimensions, and discusses approaches to
visualize and characterize these effects.
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