Franck Vernerey, University of Colorado Boulder

Rong Long, University of Colorado Boulder

This symposium will focus on experimental, theoretical and computational approaches that will enable a better understanding of the nonlinear mechanical behavior of polymers with networks that could evolve in time. The deformation of such soft polymers involves a number of molecular phenomena that are responsible for a complex combination of elastic, reversible deformation, flow and growth. While existing theoretical models can explain the nonlinear elastic response to a certain degree, our understanding of the polymer response when it extends to the elastic regime, due to mechanisms such as chain disentanglements, bond breaking, bond exchange reaction, or chain diffusion and polymerization, is still poorly understood. Addressing this challenge is critical for the development and design of a new class of polymer whose elastic and temporal response can be controlled or programmed. This includes, for instance, self-healing and injectable hydrogels for tissue engineering, polymeric shells, liquid crystal elastomers as well as polymeric materials that can be used as reversible adhesives. The symposium therefore welcomes presentations that discuss theoretical and modeling advances to establish a link between polymer structure and response, and novel experimental techniques that can help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of nonlinear polymer response. Presentation on the applications of this class of materials as biomaterials, adhesives, damper, tires, medical devices and other applications are also welcome. The objective of symposium is to provide a forum that stimulate discussions on current challenges, potential solutions and the future of these peculiar materials. Topics include but are not limited to:

•Macroscopic (continuum) modeling of nonlinear polymer response, viscoelasticity, fracture and growth•Molecular approaches of transient polymer network and Polymers with dynamic bonds

•Soft Polymer membrane and shells•Experimental characterization and modeling of adhesive, viscous polymers, rubber and hydrogels

•Fracture and fatigue of polymer networks with transient networks.

•Liquid crystal elastomers

Keywords: material systems, fundamentals of solids