[3] The first type of polymers, poly (olefin sulfone), was reported by Snow and Frey in 1943.
[4] It was further confirmed and explained in terms of the thermodynamics of a reversible propagation step by Dainton and Ivin.
[5] Closely related to depolymerizable polymers, self-immolative polymers can also irreversibly disassemble into their constituent parts in response to stimuli such as temperature, biological inputs or pH.
[6] Demand for recycling has also prompted search for polymers that are transient.
For example, poly(phthalaldehyde) is a possible photodegradable substrate material for circuits..[1] Other applications include controlled release of small molecules, and as stimuli-responsive photoresists for lithography.