66680 - Polymer’s Chemistry

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student has learned knowledge of the main chemical procedures and instrumental techniques useful for the recognition of the structure and the determination of the composition of macromolecular compounds.

He also learned useful experimental methods to study the thermal behavior in different test conditions and the main processes of degradation of macromolecules of synthetic origin by chemical and physical influences.

Course contents

1. CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION 

Repeating unit empirical formula

Presence of functional groups 

Elemental Analysis

Functional groups analysis 

2. STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION 

Difference between the possible isomers ( eg . Sequence - Copolymer - Tacticity ) 

Spectroscopic methods (IR , NMR ) 

3. MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION 

Determination of average molecular weight

Viscosimetry , GPC , MFI , Light Scattering

4. THERMAL CHARACTERIZATION 

Thermal properties 

Thermal stability of the material ( TGA ) 

Temperatures of phase transition ( DSC ) 

Fields of application of the material 

5. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION 

Microscopy ( SEM , TEM , PLOM ) 

6. TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION 

Physical and mechanical properties 

 Mechanical Dynamic Analysis  

7. ADDITIVES 

Main classes of additives 

Determination of the presence of additives in a polymer

Readings/Bibliography

There is no reference texts 

Students can use the notes provide by the teacher

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures held in the classroom, on the resolution of exercises covering the topics addressed and discussions with students

Assessment methods

The evaluation consists of an oral examination.

During the examination the concepts learned will be verified by critical discussion of the different topics also using experimental results

Teaching tools

Videoprjection of the lessons is used in classroom.   
The students are also able to obtain directly the above material form the Univeristy Digital Library Service.

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Caretti