Summary of Polymer MechanochemistrySometimes, curiosity gets the best of you, it did with Aj Boydston, an assistant professor at the University of Washington. Mr. Boydston and his students at the university conducted experiments, used models and imagined what would happen to the behavior of polymers when polymers undergo mechanical stress. This is a field of chemis ...view middle of the document...
Other results as followed when changing the physical force are the change of color (stretching) and the effect of the polymer glowing. Curious and eager to find out more about the behavior of the polymers, another experiment was conducted with elastomers, a synthetic or natural polymer having elastic properties, such as rubber. With this testing, elastomers underwent a series of compressions, increasing the number of compressions each time, thinning out elastomer to paper thin in the hopes that it would reform to its original shape. Throughout the whole experimental process, the team discovered that the elastomers bounced back to its original shape with only cosmetic damages. From here, they applied this knowledge to the world. Testing with rubber polymers, the students has discovered that once the rubber has been compressed in shoes, the polymers stop supporting the joints. This signals that the shows are worn out.
