OVERVIEW

This course provides the fundamentals of polymer science, synthesis and technology required to understand the relationships between molecular and structural features of polymeric-based materials and their resulting properties. The most important classes of polymers and polymeric materials (copolymers, mixtures and composites) are described together with their application fields, as well as the main molecular and thermal techniques applied to characterize them.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is an introductory course in polymer science aimed at:1) acquisition of the basic concepts about polymers and their structural and thermodynamic properties both in solution and in the solid state;  2) knowledge and understanding of the main techniques used for the characterization of polymeric materials both in solution and in the solid state;3) understanding of structure-property correlations of polymeric materials.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course is focused to develop the student's ability to correlate the theoretical notions on polymeric materials with experimental data to formulate general criteria for their characterization and use. To pursue this goal, traditional lectures are always accompanied by concrete examples related to everyday life as well as industrial practice. At the end of the course the student will be able to:

• know the molecular structure of the mostly-employed polymers and classify them according to different parameters;

• correlate the chemical, physical, mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of polymeric materials to their composition and structure;

• identify and critically discuss the data available from molecular and thermal characterization techniques of polymeric materials.

PREREQUISITES

It is suggested to have overcome the exams of General and Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of traditional lectures for a total of 48 hours, sometimes accompanied with exercises carried out by the teacher in the classroom. Lesson notes are uploaded to the corresponding AulaWeb page simultaneously with their presentation in the classroom.

In order to facilitate the students’ individual study, verification tests and numerical exercises (with and without resolution) are uploaded to the corresponding AulaWeb page.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Generalities on polymers and polymeric materials and their classification.

Basics on polymers synthesis.

Molecular characterization techniques of polymers (osmometry, viscosimetry, light scattering, ultracentrifugation, gel permeation chromatography).

Solid state polymers: amorphous polymers (common amorphous polymers and their use, glass transition temperature and study of the parameters influencing it), semi-crystalline polymers (common semi-crystalline polymers and their use, the melting temperature and study of the temperatures influencing it, thermodynamics and kinetics of the melting-crystallization process), characterization techniques (densitometry, DSC, determination of crystallinity degree, TGA).

Polymers in solution: polymer-solvent interactions, the Flory-Huggins model.

Introduction to rheological properties of polymers in mass and in solution.

Introduction to polymeric blends.

Elastomers: thermodynamic and statistical study of elasticity.

Polymers for special purposes and technopolymers.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Scienza e tecnologie dei materiali, D. R. Askeland, P. P. Fulay, W. J. Wright – Edizioni Città Studi, 2017

Fondamenti di Struttura, Proprietà e Tecnologia dei Polimeri- Testi AIM - Edizioni Nuova Cultura, 2011

Fondamenti di Scienza dei Polimeri - M. Guaita, F. Ciardelli, E. Pedemonte - Pacini Editore, 2009

Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali Polimerici - S. Bruckner, G. Allegra, M. Pegoraro, F.P. La Mantia- EdiSES, 2007

Fundamentals of Polymer Science – P. C. Painter, M. M. Coleman - Technomic Publishing Co., Inc. , 1997- 2nd edition.

Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials – J. M. G. Cowie – Blackie Academic & Professional, Chapman & Hull Eds., 1991 – 2nd edition.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MARINA ALLOISIO (President)

MAILA CASTELLANO (President)

DAVIDE COMORETTO

MASSIMO OTTONELLI

SILVIA VICINI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

See information on the official website of the course/s (Manifesto degli Studi and scheduled timetable).

Class schedule

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is an oral examination conducted by two teachers for a duration of at least 30 minutes. During the calendar year, seven exam dates are set up within the time intervals scheduled by the Manifesto degli Studi.

The oral examination consists of three parts, which of them are evaluated as specified below:

- in the first part, the student has to face a problem with the use of polymer materials 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; the first part is awarded a maximum rating of 15/30;

- in the second part, the student is required to describe in detail a characterization technique or a structure-property correlation model or a synthesis method; the second part is awarded a maximum rating of 10/30;

- in the third part, the student is asked to describe the characteristics and main application areas of a polymer or a class of polymers; the third part is awarded a maximum rating of 5/30.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Goal of the assessment is to verify the understanding and mastery of the learning outcomes by the student, particularly as far as the acquired ability of critically analyzing real situations is concerned. Otherwise, the student is invited to deepen his preparation also by taking advantage of further explanations by the teacher before repeating the exam. The student's ability to compare and integrate the data available from various experimental characterization techniques and from the structure-property correlation models included in the course program will also be evaluated, together with the student’s capability to express himself with a correct terminology.

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

Any pre-requisites are defined in the following documents: Regolamento Didattico and/or Manifesto degli Studi.

However, it is suggested to have overcome the exams of General and Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.