MS2083: Laboratory on Structure-Property Relationship in Polymers

Academic Units1
SemesterBoth
Pre-requisite(s)Nil
Co-requisite(s)MS2013

Course Instructor

Associate Professor Aravind Dasari

Course AIMS

To understand the influence of molecular weight on thermal and mechanical properties of polymers.
Specifically:

  1. To characterize the hydrodynamic size, virial coefficient and estimate the molecular weight using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique.
  2. To understand the concepts behind light scattering technique and Zimm plot.
  3. To compound different molecular weight polystyrene (PS) and prepare tensile specimens.
  4. To perform differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and tensile testing on specimens of different molecular weight.

To explain the differences observed in the data between the two grades of PS.
What are the underlying theories/concepts?

  1. Brownian motion, random walk analysis, polymer solutions (good, poor, theta conditions, Flory-Huggins theory, and UCST/LCST conditions)
  2. Characterization of molecular weights and importance.
  3. Importance of structural features of polymers and their influence on properties.

Intended Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Obtain a deeper understanding of some of the concepts that are taught during the course work by using the state-of-the-art scientific equipment and getting hands-on exposure.
  2. Understand the laboratory and safe working protocols.
  3. Improve skills required for scientific problem solving by establishing the problem, formulating the hypothesis, recording the observations, and interpreting/analyzing the experimental data in a comprehensive manner.
  4. Experience team learning and responsibility to complete tasks.
  5. Effectively communicating the data in writing form.

Course Content

  1. Demonstration videos and lecture on the concepts behind the content to be dealt in this module, basic principles of different equipment that will be used in the module.
  2. Hands-on training on the above-mentioned machines.
  3. Dynamic light scattering analysis of the polymer solutions to determine the conformational changes/hydrodynamic size, virial coefficients and molecular weights.
  4. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis of the different molecular weight polystyrene to differentiate the crystalline/amorphous nature, and other thermal transitions like glass transition temperatures (Tg).
  5. Optical/chemical properties of the processed systems by utilizing the spectroscopy.
  6. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to understand the thermal stability differences between the high- and low-molecular weight PS. Tensile testing of the polymers to connect the structural and chemical aspects of the materials to mechanical performance.

Reading and References

  1. Joel R. F, Polymer Science and Technology, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2014
  2. Sperling L. H, Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, 4th Edition, Wiley, 2005.
  3. Young R. J, Introduction to Polymers, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, 2011
  4. Gedde U. W, Hedenqvist M. S, Fundamental Polymer Science. Germany: Springer Internationl.Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9783030297947
  5. Lodge T. P, Hiemenz P. C, Polymer Chemistry. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2020. ISBN:9781466581654.