Abstract
This sensor combines the properties of photoluminescent polymers, which emit light when excited by photons, and the elastic properties of natural rubber. Natural rubber, grafted with small amounts (0·5–4 wt-%) of oligo(para-phenylene vinylene) (OPV), was prepared by free radical polymerisation using a classic initiator, azobisisobutyronitrile. The mole ratio of dye grafted natural rubber using signal areas of nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of OPV/isoprene is 2·91: 97·09. The influences of solid state tensile deformation on the emission characteristics of natural rubber filled with 3 and 4 wt-%OPV are different from the others, having low concentration of dye. The photoluminescence emissions were shifted to shorter wavelength with increasing percentage strain. Their emission changes due to the disruption of the excimers and the emission changes from excimers to isolated excited molecules; therefore a change in colour of the emission is possible.
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