Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding
Polymeric materials are one of the most advanced fields of research in chemistry. Polymer science is an highly multidisciplinary field, spanning from organic chemistry to mechanical engineering, which cannot be treated extensively in a single course. Object of the present course is the general introduction to the field of polymer chemistry.
Applying knowledge and understanding.
The student will be able to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in
the day to day practice in the field of polymer chemistry.
The students will have to be able to:
a) correlate the concepts (making judgements);
b) use them as theoretical background to tackle topics on polymer sciernce not necessarily handled during the course, but connected with it;
c) explain them in an organize way using a proper scientific language.
Prerequisites
Proficiency in basic organic chemistry and basic physical chemistry
Course unit content
Introductory concepts
Definitions and nomenclature; average molecular weight; isomerism and stereoisomerism; main classes of polymers, thermodynamic conditions for polymerization.
Polymer synthesis
Step-growth polymerization: statistical treatment, theory of gelation.
Free radical polymerization, anionic and coordination polymerization.
Polymerization processes
Copolymers
Structure of polymers
Conformations and configurations of polymer chains, polymer morphology.
Crystallization, melting and glass transition.
Polymer characterization
Methods for the determination of the average molecular weight: Spectroscopic methods for structural analysis: NMR.
Mechanical and reological properties
Introduction to viscoelasticity, mechanical and theoretical models of viscoelastic behaviour.
Full programme
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Bibliography
Hands-out
Teaching methods
Transparences and power point presentation
Assessment methods and criteria
Written and oral examination
To verify the level of learning achieved, written tests with open questions will be employed. The questions will span all the topics treated during the course. This type of examination allows to determine in an absolute and comparative fashion: 1) the competence on the different subjects; 2) the ability in giving precise answers to specific questions; 3) the presentation skills; 4) the exactness of the scientific language employed.
Each question will be given a mark from 0 to 5. All the marks will be summed up and scaled to yield a grade in the 30/30 range. Then the oral examination will determine the ability of the student to discuss and correlate the topics learned. The oral will add 0 to 3 points to the grade of the written examination.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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