Evidence and modeling of mechanoluminescence in a transparent glass particulate composite

Mechanoluminescence (ML) of a transparent alkali-phosphate glass composite with SrAl2O4:Eu, Dy particles is reported. Uniaxial compression experiments show the linear dependence of the mechanoluminescence intensity with the mechanical power. A theoretical model, based on the physics of delayed processes (in analogy of viscoelasticity), is proposed. This model accurately predicts the ML intensity changes induced by a complex mechanical loading and provides a convincing description of the mechanoluminescence response.