Efficient catalysis that simultaneously cleaves thermodynamically inert C–C bonds and generates functional moieties to stimulate chemical recycling of polyolefins is lacking. In this issue Chem, Kanbur et al. design an organozirconium catalyst combined with aluminum reagents enable a clever tandem cleavage carboalumination process yields value-added alkylaluminum products. With their ubiquitous...

We examine the elastic shear waves generated in a thin pre-stressed elastomer layer that is sandwiched between two relatively thick steel plates and is subjected to an elastic shear wave traveling in one of the steel plates. The elastomer layer has been deformed in uni-axial strain in advance, producing in the layer very large axial and lateral compressive stresses of the order of its bulk modu...

The mechanical response to electrical stimulation was investigated in a chiral smectic elastomer. The two-dimensional strain tensor in an elastomer film was precisely measured by tracking fluorescent beads dispersed on the film. Shear deformation in the film was clearly observed when an electric field was applied perpendicular to the film surface. The temperature dependence of the strain tensor...

The effect of interfacial friction on adhesion was studied by using a model system, in which a thin strip of silicone elastomer was peeled from a PDMS (poly(dimethylsiloxane)) treated glass slide. The fluorescent particle tracking method revealed that the elastomer stretches and slides on glass well before the crack faces open up. Interfacial energy dissipation due to friction, which is the pro...

The rheology is widely known as one of the basic methods for rubber investigations for many years. At the same time, a variety of other methods of physical and chemical analysis suitable is available for rubber industry. One of them, the Time-Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD--NMR) Spectroscopy is very sensitive to structural properties of elastomer materials. Moreover, by using NMR it is p...