Polymer Science

The polymer science is a constantly evolving scientific field with numerous technological applications and new scientific challenges. Polymeric materials exhibit a plurality of exciting properties resulting from the particular behavior of the large molecular size of the polymeric chains. The aim of the course is to understand the properties of polymers at the molecular level through the development of fundamental concepts related to the synthesis and characterization of their behavior in solution and solid state.

Objectives

1. Be acquainted with the basic concept of polymer characterization. 2. Be acquainted with the chemistry of step-growth and chaingrowth polymerization reactions. 3. Be able to extract the kinetic equations of the polymerization reactions. 4. Comprehend and use the basic principles of statistical thermodynamics of macromolecular solutions and distinguish them from those of small molecules. 5. Be acquainted with the basic principles concerning the various characterization techniques of polymers e.g. osmometry, viscometry and gel permeation chromatography. 6. Be acquainted with the states of polymers (amorphous, crystalline) and how they influence the ultimate properties in the solid state. Comprehend the relationship between the chain conformation and the thermal properties of polymers (Tg, Tm). 7. Understand the basic principles of polymer viscoelasticity to choose the appropriate method for the determination of mechanical properties of polymers.

Prerequisites

There no prerequisite courses. It is, however, recommended that students should have at least basic knowledge of Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Thermodynamics

Syllabus

1.Introduction 2.Chemistry of step-growth polymerization 3.Kinetics of step-growth polymerization 4.Chemistry of chain-growth radical polymerization 5.Kinetics of chain-growth polymerization 6.Kinetics of radical copolymerization 7.Statistical thermodynamics of macromolecular solutions 8.Phase equilibria, solubility 9. Dilute polymer solutions and characterization methods of polymers 10.Solid state properties of macromolecules 11.Mechanical properties