91208 - FUNCTIONAL POLYMERIC MATERIALS

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

At the end of the course the student has acquired knowledge on structure-property relationships of polymeric materials designed to perform specific functions. The student will be able to identify the elements of the macromolecular chemical structure that influence the requested functionality, as well as the structural and morphological parameters that influence the final properties of the material.

Contenuti

1) INTRODUCTION (6h)

• Structure-property relations in polymeric materials.
• Review of macromolecular chemistry principles.

2) MECHANICAL PROPERTIES (10h)

• Viscoelasticity.
• Mechanical models.
• Creep, stress relaxation, stress strain measurements.
• Time-temperature superposition principle.
• Relaxation processes in polymers. Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy.

3) STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONS, COPOLYMERS AND BLENDS (4h)

• Copolymers. Dependence of thermal and mechanical properties on composition and morphology.
• Binary polymer blends. Miscibility and phase diagrams in blends with amorphous and/or crystallisable components. Thermal transitions and mechanical properties dependence on composition.
• Interpenetrated polymer networks.

4) COMPOSITE MATERIALS (4h)

• Rubber-toughening of polymers.
• Polymer composites.
• Nanocomposites. Organic-inorganic hybrids.

5) BIOPLASTICS (4h)

• Polymeric materials from renewable resources.
• Biodegradable polymers

6) FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS (12h)

• superabsorbent polymers
• polymeric materials with high thermal stability and resistance to aggressive environment
• biomaterials
• polymeric materials with liquid crystalline behaviour
• high modulus fibres
• specialty polymers for energy applications

Laboratory programme (16h):

Sample preparation for the various experiments by means of hot pressing, spin coating. Electrospinning and 3D-(bio)printing technologies. Solid-state characterization of polymeric materials by the following experimental techniques: thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, tensile mechanical testing, optical microscopy, dynamic-mechanical spectroscopy, water contact angle. Rheological characterization.

Testi/Bibliografia

Books for consultation, copy of the material shown during lecturing and Power Point presentations provided by the lecturer.

Chapters relative to specific subjects of the course in:

- “Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali Polimerici” S. Brukner et al. Ed. Edises, Napoli, 2001

- J.M.G. Covie and V. Arrighi, "Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials", 3rd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2008

IoL platform will be used to deposit power point documents and reading materials. prepared by the teacher.

Metodi didattici

The Course is structured into two parts:

1. 40 hours of lectures where the various parts of the course contents are developed, and the background of the experimental techniques that will be applied in the Lab is provided.
2. 16 hours of Laboratory experiments where the student, working in a group with other students, carries out the solid-state characterization of a given functional polymeric material and prepare a presentation where he explains the obtain results and discusses the results.

A seminar by a company will be given to the students on a topic of the course.

Attendance to course lessons is strongly recommended to understand the most fundamental aspects of the subject and the correlations among the different parts of the programme

The students are requested to prepare and present (in a group of 5 people) a power point presentation on the laboratory activity.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

Assessment will be carried out by an oral examination (30-40 minutes) during which the student will have to demonstrate his knowledge on the correlations between structure and properties in polymeric materials designed to perform specific functions.

The student is requested to answer to three questions: (i) mechanical properties; (ii) a specific class of functional polymers; (iii) structure-property correlation.

The final mark will also take into account the results of the laboratory experiments carried out by the student.

To pass the examination the student is requested to answer in a correct and complete way to the 3 questions, if one of the 3 questions is not answered the examination fails..

Good language properties and the ability to make connections among the different parts of the programme will involve a higher score.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC, laboratory

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Maria Letizia Focarete

Consulta il sito web di Chiara Gualandi