Fundamentals of Polymer Chemistry and LaboratoryModule Module 2
Academic Year 2023/2024 - Teacher: ANGELO NICOSIAExpected Learning Outcomes
Details of the expected learning outcomes:
-Knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the main chemical and phenomenological aspects related to the synthesis of polymers and the structure-property correlations;
-Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: being able to develop chemical synthesis processes in relation to the type of polymers to be obtained and their application. Acquiring the knowledge useful for the application of different instrumental/analytical techniques to investigate the polymer properties;
-Making judgements: allow the objective evaluation of the chemical-physical properties of the polymers correlated to the methods of preparation and to their fields of application;
-Communication skills: develop and/or improve the ability to expose even complex scientific concepts by implementing the technical terminologies suitable for polymeric materials;
Learning skills: Apply techniques and theoretical models for solving problems of macromolecular chemistry.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Purification and stabilization of solvents, monomers and catalysts commonly used in polymer syntheses.
Radical and ionic chain polymerization, through monophase and multiphase processes.
Step-growth polymerization, through bulk and solution approaches. Syntheses of block and statistical copolymers. Approach to ionic cross-linking of polymers.
Characterization of the obtained polymers: solubility, viscosity, molecular mass distribution, thermal and spectroscopic properties.
Textbook Information
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolution of the concept of Macromolecule | |
| 2 | Nomenclature and Constitutional Analysis of Polymers | |
| 3 | Structure-poperty correlation of the major types of Polymers | |
| 4 | Analysis of configuration: vinyl polymers, diene polymers, microtacticity and NMR analysis | |
| 5 | Chain-growth polymerizations: radical, anionic, cationic, coordination polymerization, with Ziegler-Natta catalysts, metal oxides and metallocenes. | |
| 6 | Ring Opening polymerizations | |
| 7 | Step-growth polymerizations: linear and multifunctional | |
| 8 | Copolymerization | |
| 9 | Processes for polymer production and examples of industrial productions: bulk, solution and mixed phases polymerizations (emulsion, suspension, interfacial, dispersion) | |
| 10 | Approahces to the most common polymer materials: polyolefins, polyvinyl, polydienes, polyesters, polyamides, polyethers, polyurethanes, polyimides, resins. |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
-At the beginning, will be asked for comments related to any mistake evidenced in the laboratory reports.
-The candidate should describe the preliminary operations, the instruments, and the procedures needed to perform the required polymer synthesis.
-The candidate should describe the theoretical approach and the maths operations used in the calculation of the mean molecular masses using the experimental data obtained from GPC analysis.
-The candidate should describe the viscosimetric approach to the calculation of the mean molecular mass of polymers.