Abstract: The present invention relates to controlled radical polymerization (CRP) initiators that include at least one radically transferable group. The CRP initiators include at least one of the following, (a) a spirooxazine compound represented by the following Formula (I), and (b) an indenonaphthopyran represented by the following Formula (II), One or more of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 of the spirooxazine, and one or more of R7, R8, R9, R10, B, and B? independently include the radically transferable group. The present invention also relates to polymers, such as mechanochromic polymers, that are prepared from such CRP initiators, polymer compositions that include such polymers, and mechanochromic articles that include such polymer compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition that includes a polymer having at least one polymer segment represented by the following Formula (I), With reference to Formula (I): M independently for each w is a residue of a monomer; ? is a residue of a mechanochromic compound having at least two reactive groups that are each independently bonded to one monomer residue M; w, independently for each z, is an integer of at least 1; and z is an integer of at least 2.