The “labile” chemical bond: A perspective on mechanochemistry in polymers

The view on macromolecules has expanded significantly since Staudinger's hypothesis 100 years ago. Currently noncovalent bonds are ranked equally important to their covalent counterparts, in particular in view of controlling macromolecules structure and assembly by pure force. With Staudinger's work expanded by mechanically driven bond-rupture in macromolecules, applications of mechanophores are highlighted in view of interfaces, stress-detection, vitrimers and self-healing. Selected underlying processes of mechanochemical and mechanobiological activation in macromolecules are discussed.