98850 - Laboratory of Fundamentals of Polymer Chemistry

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with practical laboratory skills in the synthesis and characterization of selected polymers.

Course contents

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of organic chemistry and of synthesis of organic molecules.

 

Laboratory experiences program

Examples of step-growth and chain polymerization using different techniques (mass, solution and emulsion polymerization), cross-linking reactions, to obtain thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Characterization of polymeric materials by density measurements, infrared spectroscopy analysis (ATR-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), rotational viscometer (Brookfield) and melt flow index (MFI).

In particular, the following practical experiences will be carried out:

1. Separation of a physical mix of unknown polymers based on their density, their identification, also with the help of infrared spectroscopy;
2. Synthesis of a glycerophthalic resin and formulations of commercial thermosetting resins;
3. Synthesis of polystyrene by solution radical polymerization;
4. Synthesis of Nylon 6 by anionic polymerization and Nylon 6,10 by interfacial polymerization;
5. Evaluation of viscosity of polymers in solution (using a Brookfield viscometer);
6. Evaluation of the viscosity of polymer "melts" using a MFI tester.

Teaching participates in the University's teaching innovation project.

 

Readings/Bibliography

AIM - Fondamenti di struttura, proprietà e tecnologia dei polimeri, Edizioni Nuova Cultura, 2012, Roma

J. W. Nicholson, The Chemistry of Polymers, RSC Paperbacks 2nd Edition, 1997, Cambridge

A. Ravve, Principles of Polymer Chemistry, Plenum Press, 1995, New York and London

Teaching methods

The course will involve laboratory experiences carried out in person by the student to enable them to come into contact, probably for the first time, with the synthesis and characterization techniques of polymeric materials. At the beginning of each lab session, the teacher will introduce the topic of the experience. To maximize everyone's practice, students will work organized in small groups, usually in pairs.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 online, while Module 3 on health and safety is to be attended in class. Information about Module 3 attendance schedule is available on the website of your degree programme.

Assessment methods

Student has to attend more than 75% of pratical laboratory activities.

Labs report will be evaluated with the aim at ascertaining the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills.

Teaching tools

This teaching activity provides only for eligibility.

To obtain eligibility, the student must attend at least 75% of the hours (a minimum of 18 out of 24 hours) scheduled for practical laboratory experiences, and submit adequately written reports on the corresponding laboratory experiments.

Verification of learning is through the evaluation of laboratory reports, in which the student must demonstrate its ability to report the work done and the data collected in a clear and concise manner.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a useful tool to support independent study and to explore specific topics in greater depth. However, it must not be used to write laboratory reports. The use of AI for this purpose constitutes a violation of academic integrity, and any laboratory report that is clearly AI-generated will be considered unacceptable.

In order to have the eligibility recorded, the student must book the eligibility on AlmaEsami as if it were any other exam, and e-mail the laboratory reports at least one week before the call date.

Please note that students who do not meet the mandatory attendance requirement (attendance of at least 75% of the scheduled laboratory hours) will not be allowed to register for the examination through AlmaEsami and, therefore, will not be eligible to obtain the pass. Any missed laboratory sessions may be attended in subsequent academic years.

Office hours

See the website of Emanuele Maccaferri