AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is an introductory teaching relating to the science and technology of polymer-based materials focused on:

1) structure, properties and application uses of the most common polymers and main classes of polymers;

2) polymer-based formulations for advanced applications;

3) most common technologies for recovery and recycling of polymer-based materials.

The main objective of the teaching is to provide the student with the fundamentals to correlate composition and structure of polymer-based materials with their properties and technological use in all stages of production, including disposal. To pursue this purpose, the lectures are always accompanied by concrete examples related to the daily life and industrial practice.

At the end of the teaching, the student must be able to:

• know the molecular structure and the application fields of the most common polymers;

• know the main classes of polymers and their general properties;

• know the main types of polymer-based formulations, including copolymers and composites;

• understand the correlation between composition-structure-properties in both traditional and innovative polymeric-based materials;

• describe the main methods of recovery and recycling of polymeric materials and their application fields;

• use an adequate terminology in the description of phenomena and processes involving polymeric materials.

Based on the objectives described, the teaching contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the ONU 2030 Agenda: Goal 4. Quality Education, Goal 5. Gender Equity and Goal 12. Responsible consumption and production.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of traditional lectures for a total of 24 hours, sometimes accompanied with exercises carried out by the teacher in the classroom.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Polymers and polymeric materials: definitions.

Basics of polymers: origin, composition, nomenclature,  and molecular properties (structure of the polymer chain, molecular mass, polydispersity).

Thermoplastic polymers (amorphous, semicrystalline), thermosetting polymers, elastomers, fibers.

Copolymers.

Polymer-based composites.

Polymer-based formulations for special uses.

Recovery and recycling of polymeric materials.

Biodegradable and compostable polymers.

The detailed program is uploaded to aul@web, so that students can verify its correspondence with the learning outcomes of the teaching.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

To facilitate learning, lesson notes are uploaded to the corresponding aul@web simultaneously with their content’s presentation in the classroom. Verification quizzes and tests are uploaded to the same web page to check individual preparation.

The following supporting texts are suggested, limited to the contents covered in the teaching:

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

Supplementary material is provided on request to working students or students with SLD to meet specific needs.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MAURIZIO FERRETTI (President)

STEFANO ALBERTI

MAILA CASTELLANO

MARINA ALLOISIO (President Substitute)

FEDERICO LOCARDI (President Substitute)

SILVIA VICINI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The teaching is held on the 5th bimester of the academic year.

Lessons timetable is available at the link reported below.

 https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/11429/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written test; the time available for the test is 90 minutes. Number and distribution of exam sessions during the academic year are scheduled based on o the rules established by the Manifesto degli Studi and Regolamento del Corso di Studio.

The written test consists of:

-15 multiple choice questions or true/false questions: 1 point is awarded for each correct answer, 0 points are awarded for each wrong or no answer; for questions that require more than one correct answer, the score may be expressed in fractional terms based on the number of correct answers identified;

-5 open problems or questions: up to 3 points will be awarded for each problem or question.

For students with disabilities or with SLD, the examination methods refer to the specific regulations of the University of Genova (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written test will aim to check the effective achievement of the learning outcomes by the student, in particular with regard to the capability to know the composition and structure of polymer-based materials and describe their properties in relation to their application fields. Otherwise, the student will be invited to deepen the study and to make use of further explanations by the teacher before repeating the exam.

The exam will also assess whether the student has reached an adequate level of understanding of the teaching contents and using a correct terminology. The student's capability to identify  the recovery and recycling methodologies that can be applied to polymer-based materials will also be evaluated.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Any pre-requisites are defined in the following documents: Regolamento del Corso di Studio and/or Manifesto degli Studi.

However, it is recommended to have overcome the exams of Elements of Chemistry and Elements of Materials Science.