91208 - FUNCTIONAL POLYMERIC MATERIALS

Anno Accademico 2022/2023

  • Moduli: Maria Letizia Focarete (Modulo 1) Chiara Gualandi (Modulo 2)
  • Modalità didattica: Convenzionale - Lezioni in presenza (Modulo 1) Convenzionale - Lezioni in presenza (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Laurea Magistrale in Photochemistry and Molecular Materials (cod. 9074)

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

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

2) MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

  • 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

  • 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

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

5) BIOPLASTICS

  • Polymeric materials from renewable resources.
  • Biodegradable polymers

6) FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS

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

 Laboratory programme (16h):

This part of the course includes lessons in the laboratory. To have access to the laboratory students are required to attend Module 1 and 2 in e- learning mode [https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio] and a Module 3 about health and safety in study places. Information about the dates and modes to attend module 3 will be published on the Degree Course website.

Most common solid-state characterization techniques for polymeric materials will be presented: Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Thermo-Mechanical Analysis (DMTA) and stress-strain tests.

Principles and basic concepts of each technique will be presented during lessons preparatory to the laboratory session, and explanation on how to interpret and elaborate experimental data will be provided. Student will participate to frontal lab activities in group to carry out the measurements on selected polymeric samples. Moreover, selected curves and cases studies will be provided to the student, together with the software for curve elaboration.

The detailed program of lessons and lab experiences will be provided to students and will be published on https://virtuale.unibo.it/.

 

 

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

Virtuale 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.
  2. 16 hours of Laboratory experiments where the background of the experimental techniques that will be applied in the Lab is provided and the student will carry out the solid-state characterization on selected polymeric material. Several cases studies will be discussed to provide tools on result interpretation.

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.

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 [https://www.unibo.it/en/services-and-opportunities/health-and-assistance/health-and-safety/online-course-on-health-and-safety-in-study-and-internship-areas] 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.

 

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

Assessment will be carried out by an oral examination (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 and polymer characterization (lab module).

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

SDGs

Consumo e produzione responsabili

L'insegnamento contribuisce al perseguimento degli Obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile dell'Agenda 2030 dell'ONU.