Poly(acrylates) showing critical fluorescence change in response to heat

Abstract Poly(acrylate) plastics in which medium to long alkyl chain acrylate monomers and a molecular rotor (MR) are bonded covalently, were prepared and examined to show unique fluorescence (FL) emission behaviors in response to heat. Selected long alkyl chain acrylate monomers and fluorescent MR monomers were UV cured using a little amount of cross-linker to produce emissive plastic films with excellent features: surface brilliance, transparency, mechanical strength, and chemical resistance. The prepared acrylic plastics experienced distinct reversible crystal-to-liquid local phase change of the long alkyl chains under repeated heating and cooling with high absolute enthalpies of fusion. The FL emission was weakened at a narrow temperature range, during heating, while a significant FL enhancement was observed during cooling.