Thermochromic Polymers-Function by Design

The review demonstrates how the functions of thermochromic polymers are determined by their design. The strategy to design thermochromic systems by physical or chemical interaction of their nonthermochromic components encourages this topic. Changes of the light scattering properties on temperature change do primarily not affect the color but the transparency of the material. The review uses the term thermochromism in its closer sense denoting color changes with temperature. Another way to classify thermochromic polymers is to distinguish between polymers with inherent thermochromic properties. Polymers which become thermochromic by embedding of thermochromic pigments and polymers which become thermochromic by the interaction between a polymer matrix and additives.