Polymers Characterization

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Course teacher

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Status of the course

Course objectives

To provide an understanding of thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of polymers, polymer solutions and melts as a base for their characterization.

Course enrolment requirements and entry competences required for the course

Learning outcomes expected at the level of the course (4 to 10 learning outcomes)

After the successfully passed exam student should be able to:
- describe specific characteristics of polymers, polymer solutions and melts
- describe relation between structure and properties of polymers
- characterise polymers by selected analytical techniques
- determine thermal characteristics of polymer
- perform complex experiment in laboratory and to interpret collected data
- participate in team work and to present results of investigation

Course content broken down in detail by weekly class schedule (syllabus)

1st week: Introduction. Statistics of polymer chain.
2nd week: Conformation of polymer molecules in dilute solution, distribution function.
3rd week: Polymer solutions: swelling and solution of polymers, solubility parameters.
4th week: Statistical thermodynamics of polymer solutions.
5th week: Theory of dilute polymer solutions.
6th week: Phase equlibrium in polymer systems: binary systems, ternary systems
7th week: Theory of fractionation. Methods of fractionation
8th week: Repetition and first test.
9th week: Polydispersity of polymers and its determination
10th week: Methods of determination of the average molecular masses and average dimensions of polymeric coils: osmometry, light-scattering
11th week: Diffusion and ultracentrifugation, viscometry
12th week: Flow of concentrated polymer solutions and polymer melts: rheological methods, flow curves
13th week: The relation between flow and molecular parameters, relation between flow and polymeric melts temperature
14th week: Viscosity of concentrated polymeric solutions
15th week: Repetition and second test.
Laboratory exercises:
1. Swelling of polymeric materials
2. Fractionation of polymer by fractional precipitation method
3. Turbidimetric titration
4. Determination of molecular mass by viscometry
5. Determination of viscosity of concentrated polymer solutions by rotational viscometer
6. Determination of thermal characteristics of polymers

Format of instruction:

Student responsibilities

Lecture attendance: 80 %. Laboratory exercises attendance: 100 %. The preparation and presentation of seminar essay (team work)