MS2013: Introduction to Polymer Science

Course Instructor

Prof Hu Xiao

Course AIMS

This is an advanced introductory level course, which is aimed to provide fundamental and also specialized knowledge in polymer science for Materials Engineering students. This course covers essential topics in both chemical and physical aspects of polymers.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you (as a student) would be able to:

1. Describe basic concept and classification of polymers, and their applications.
2. Understand the concept of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution; Explain and calculate  molecular weight and distribution of  polymers, and explain and illustrate methods of measurement of molecular weight
3. Understand the basic principles of polymerization; Describe the basic and essential steps of different polymerization methods; Discuss and contrast their mechanisms and analyze kinetics of step growth and chain growth (free radical and ionic polymerization)
4. Understand copolymer and copolymerization, and the concept of composition drift and composition control; Be abreast with the broader aspect and recent advances in polymerization
5. Describe the basic chain conformations of polymers in solution.
6. Understand the concept of viscosity of polymer solutions. Describe the basic principles of characterizing the molecular weight of polymers using size exclusion chromatography.
7. Understand the basic thermodynamic principles of polymer solutions; discuss the polymer-solution interactions using the Flory-Huggins theory; explain and calculate the osmotic pressure of polymeric solutions.
8. Distinguish amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers and evaluate the implications; define the important thermal transitions of polymers and the factors affecting the transitions.
9. Illustrate the measurements of thermal transitions.
10. Discuss the unique viscoelastic properties of polymers and the basic models.

Course Content

Polymer Chemistry:

1. Overview of polymers
   - Classes, types and applications of common polymers
   - Molecular weight and molecular weight distribution
   
2. Step-growth polymerization
   - Condensation polymerization
   - Qualitative and quantitative discussion
   
   
3. Chain-growth polymerization
   - Overview of polymerization techniques
   - Free radical polymerization
   - Ionic polymerization
   - Copolymer and copolymerization
   
   
4. Selected recent advances in polymer chemistry
   - Grubbs ring opening metathesis polymerization
   - Controlled radical polymerization
   - Polymerization of conducting polymers
   - UV polymerization towards 3D printing
   - Dynamic bonding towards self-healing
   - Depolymerization towards plastic recycling
   

Polymer Physics:

1. Polymer conformations in solution
   - Average end-to-end distance for freely jointed chains
   - Freely rotating chains
   - Radius of gyration
   - Solvent quality
   
   
2. Dynamics of dilute polymer solutions
   - Viscosity of polymer solutions
   - Intrinsic viscosity and Mark-Houwink Equations
   - Hydrodynamic radius
   - Size exclusion Chromatography
   - Thermodynamics of polymer solutions
   
   
3. Thermodynamics of regular solution
   - Flory-Huggins theory
   - Osmotic pressure
   
   
4. Glass and melting transitions
   - Amorphous and crystalline polymers
   - Melting temperature
   - Glass transition temperature
   - Factors affecting Tg
   - Measurement of Tg and Tm
   
   
5. Linear viscoelasticity
   - Viscoelasticity of polymers
   - Creep and stress relaxation
   - Models for polymer linear viscoelasticity
   

Reading and References

1. RJ Young and PA Lovell. (2011). Introduction to Polymers, 3nd Edition, CRC Press
2. SL Rosen. (1993). Fundamental Principles of Polymeric Materials, 2nd Edition, John Wiley
3. https://pslc.ws/macrog/level4.htm
4. Other reading material and online resources may be given specific to each selected topics.