OVERVIEW

In this course, the basic principles about formulation chemistry and issues related to the development of new materials and/or the performance improvement of pre-existing materials are provided. Specifically, the course focuses on the importance of colloidal systems as highly-performing additives in the chemical industry and can be considered as a completion addressed to application fields of the course of Colloids and Interphases.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course is aimed to provide an overview on the formulation chemistry through the recall of basic knowledge, the study of preparation methods and experimental techniques of investigation and discussion in industrial field. Particular attention will be paid to colloidal systems as they represent an essential component in the formulation technology for advanced industrial applications.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge of properties, methods of preparation and main characterization techniques of different types of colloids, monolayers and multilayers. Ability to correlate structure and properties of different molecular architectures, providing specific examples in various application areas.

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional lectures sometimes accompanied with exercises carried out by the teacher in the classroom. Lesson notes are uploaded to the corresponding AulaWeb page after their content has been developed in the classroom.

In order to facilitate the individual preparation of the students, verification tests are uploaded to the corresponding AulaWeb page.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Recalls on the chemistry of formulations: areas of application and industrial relevance.

Recalls on the science of colloids and surfaces: characteristics and role in the chemistry of formulations.

Colloids: molecular, structural and electronic properties. Quantum confinement effects and their importance in conditioning the properties of the matter at the nanoscale level (optical, magnetic, mechanical properties and reactivity).

Transport properties of colloidal systems: diffusion, sedimentation and membrane equilibria (osmotic pressure, Donnan effect, dialysis processes). Examples of application on biological macromolecules.

Rheological properties of colloidal systems: review on Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids (plastic, pseudo-plastic, dilatant fluids). Einstein's theory on the viscosity of the dispersions. Thixotropy and anti-thixotropy. Rheometers and viscometers. Examples of applications for cosmetic and food industries.

Association Colloids: general properties, critical micelle concentration, thermodynamics and kinetics of micellization. Structural models for micelles dispersed in water and definition of the corresponding structural parameters. Solubilizing, detergent and catalytic properties of micelles and their applications. Reverse micelles, liposomes and lyotropic liquid crystals: structure, properties and applications.

Adsorption from solution and formation of monolayers and multilayers: self-assembled monolayers on solid substrates (SAM): structure, properties and methods of preparation on 2D- and 3D-surfaces. Langmuir-Blodgett films: structure and properties. Examples of applications of adsorbed monolayers and multilayers.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

“Principles of colloid and surface chemistry”, P:C: Hiemenz, R. Rajagopalan, 3rd Edition, CRC press, Taylor & Francis Group (1997)

“Kirk-Othemer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology”, J. I. Kroschwitz, M. howe-Grant, Eds., John Wiley & Sons (1996).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARINA ALLOISIO (President)

CAMILLA COSTA (President)

ALDO BOTTINO

ORIETTA MONTICELLI

MASSIMO OTTONELLI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Available on the official website of Industrial Chemistry degree as soon as the calendar is defined.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination conducted by two teachers for a duration of at least 30 minutes.

The oral examination usually consists of two parts; both of them are awarded a maximum rating of 15/30 for the exam evaluation:

- in the first part, the student has to face a problem connected to formulation chemistry in order to verify his understanding and mastery of the course topics as well as his ability to apply the theoretical concepts to real situations;

- in the second part, the student is called upon to answer two questions related to topics of the course program, chosen by the exam committee; the second part is awarded a maximum rating of 15/30.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Goal of the assessment is to verify the understanding and mastery of the learning outcomes by the student. Otherwise, the student is invited to deepen his preparation also by taking advantage of further explanations by the teacher. As a quality assurance, the detailed program of the course is uploaded to the corresponding AulaWeb page, so that students can verify the correspondence between topics and learning outcomes.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

No official pre-requisites. However, it may be useful to have followed the course of Colloids and Interfaces.