Learning objectives
<br />The first part of the course aims at providing the elements of the chemical catalysis in comparison with the enzymatic one. The second part deals with the transformation, through chemical processes, of simple molecules into polymers with characteristics of biodegradability and biocompatibility.
Prerequisites
- - -
Course unit content
<br />The course covers the following subjects:<br />Oxidation processes: radical oxidation reactions; formation of peroxides; use of anti-oxidants.<br />Hydrogenation processes: use of hydrogen; production of margarine; enantioselctive hydrogenation processes. <br />Carbonylation processes: carbonylation and hydroformylation reactions of olefins; acetic acid from methanol. <br />C-C bond formation: metathesis of olefins.<br />Natural and synthetic polymers: conformations and configurations; cohesion forces and related properties (solubility, degree of crystallinity, etc.) average molecular weight and its determination, rheology, mechanical properties, morphology; requisites of fibers, elastomers, plastic substances; polyaddition and polycondensation; chain and step growth polymerization (radical, cationic and anionic processes); Ziegler-Natta catalysis; stereospecific polymerization; metallocenes; polymerization technologies: mass, emulsion, suspension, solution processes; solid-gas reactors; extrusion, blowing and connected technologies.
Full programme
- - -
Bibliography
<br />P.W.N.M. van Leeuwen, Homogeneous Catalysis, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004.<br />P. Stevens, Polymer Chemistry: An Introduction, 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 1999.<br />
Teaching methods
- - -
Assessment methods and criteria
- - -
Other information
- - -
