The physical mechanism behind poretrykreaktions involves a coupling of mechanical deformation and chemical diffusion. As a solid is pressed, pore throats narrow, reducing access for reactants and increasing the concentration of species at the wall. The energetic barrier for reactions can be lowered by the increased pressure, and the confinement can stabilize transient intermediates. In many systems, the reaction rate follows a non‑linear dependence on pressure, with critical pressure points where reaction pathways shift dramatically.
The term was first used in the early 1990s in a series of papers on hydrocarbon migration in shales. Researchers observed anomalous cracking and chemical conversion when shale samples were subjected to high‑pressure laboratory testing. Subsequent studies confirmed that the phenomenon was not limited to organic‑rich rocks but also appeared in polymer composites, metal‑oxide ceramics, and bio‑inspired aerogels.
Mathematical models for poretrykreaktions incorporate poromechanics, diffusion equations, and transition‑state theory. A common approach couples the Biot poroelastic equations with rate equations of chemical kinetics. Recent computational work has used finite‑element simulations to predict pressure thresholds for particular reactions in nanoporous materials.
Applications emerge in fields such as catalytic reactor design, where pressure can be used to tune selectivity; in energy storage, where compression of electrode pores enhances ion transport; and in geological CO₂ sequestration, where pressure‑driven mineralization reactions may improve storage security. Current research seeks to identify new material classes that exhibit strong poretrykreaktions and to develop experimental setups that can precisely control pore pressure. The continued interdisciplinary effort promises to expand both the fundamental understanding and practical exploitation of this phenomenon.