Learning outcomes expected at the level of the course (4 to 10 learning outcomes) |
After passing the exam the student is expected to:
- understand the properties and behavior of the polymer during processing and application
- explain the importance of polymer additives
- describe the main polymer processing procedures
- identify and classify components of plastic waste
- differentiate between material and energy recovery of polymer waste
- select the optimal methods of waste recovery
- conclude on the importance of polymers in modern society |
Course content broken down in detail by weekly class schedule (syllabus) |
1st week: types of polymers. Polymer processing properties (thermal properties).
2nd week: polymer processing properties - continued (mechanical properties, rheology).
3rd week: additives for polymers.
4th week: primary shaping procedures: continuous (extrusion, calendering and coating).
5th week: primary shaping procedures: discontinuous (compression moulding, transfer moulding, injection moulding, casting, sintering).
6th week: secondary shaping procedures: warm and cold secondary shaping, blowing, drawing, shrinkage. Bonding, welding.
7th week: surface improvement of plastics. Production of foamy and reinforced polymer products. Environmental impacts of plastic production stage.
8th week: continuous assessment (the first colloquium). Global consumption of polymers and environmental impacts of plastic products using stage. Polymers and sustainable development.
9th week: labeling polymer products. Types of plastic waste. Homogeneous and heterogeneous plastic waste. Compatibility of polymers.
10th week: sorting procedures (plastic from other waste, plastic-plastic separation).
11th week: size reduction of plastic waste. Mechanical recycling. Primary and secondary recycling of plastic waste.
12th week: recycling of homogeneous and heterogeneous plastic waste. Chemical recycling. Solvent recycling.
13th week: energy recovery. Biodegradation. Behavior of plastic waste in the landfill and compost. Environmental impacts of the plastic recycling.
14th week: LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) method.
15th week: final comments, discussion, conclusions. Continuous assessment (the second colloquium).
Laboratory exercises :
Exercise 1. Manual sorting of plastic packaging waste.
Exercise 2. Sorting of plastic waste by float-sink method .
Exercise 3. Sorting of plastic waste by infrared spectroscopy .
Exercise 4. Effect of repeated recycling the thermal properties of polymers.
Exercise 5. Chemical recycling of poly (ethylene terephthalate).
Exercise 6. Separation and identification of additives in polymeric material.
Field work: visit to factories AD Plastik Inc., Solin and Fornix Ltd. , Dugi Rat |
