OVERVIEW

The teaching provides practical tools to develop knowledge on laboratory methods for the synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials of significant industrial interest.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to give knowledges about the polymerization methods and the characterization of polymer materials.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities and the individual study will allow the student to:

- know in depth the main polymerization techniques and be able to experimentally carry out some syntheses;

- identify and know how to use the main types of polymer characterization techniques;

- understand the potentiality and the limits of the methods of instrumental characterization;

- acquire a correct scientific terminology for the study of macromolecular chemistry.

TEACHING METHODS

Attendance at laboratory and at preparatory lessons in laboratory for the activities is compulsory.

Copies of the slides presented will be available on AulaWeb and can be used as a basis for the study. The slides can only be a reference for the study of the topics, to be combined with attendance at laboratory lessons or texts. These slides will help in drafting the reports to be presented regarding the laboratory activities.

The laboratory will be held by the professor in charge of the teaching, the students, divided into small groups, from two to four, will apply actively the experimental protocol provided and the methods described. At the end of the activities, the students will present a report with the results obtained. The organization and dates of the laboratory activities will be communicated directly by the teacher at the beginning of the lessons.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Synthesis of polymers in bulk and emulsion will be developed, after purification of monomers and initiator with different methods. Correlation between synthetic parameters as monomer and initiator concentration etc. with molecular weight and yield of polymers will be carried out.

The results will be discussed by the students, comparing data obtained with different synthesis conditions. This experience will allow students to apply some fundamental concepts analyzed in some theoretical courses dealing with macromolecular chemistry.   

Polymers will be fractionated and characterized by viscosimetric (with Ubbelohde viscosimeter), thermal (DSC) and spectroscopic measurements (FT-IR with ATR and DRIFT). Study of mixing of polymers will be performed, by thermal analysis and by using of empirical equations. Measurement of superficial properties of polymeric films, by determination of contact angle will be carried out.

The experiments carried out in the laboratory will end with a discussion on the results and with the description of the report, that will be discussed during the examination.  

This class contributes to the achievement of the following 2030 ONU Agenda sustainability Goals: 4-5-12

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

S.R. Sandler, W. Karo, J.A. Bonesteel, E.M. Pearce. Polymer Synthesis and Characterization, Academic Press, New york

Supplementary material is provided, if requested, to working students or students with SLD to meet specific need.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ORIETTA MONTICELLI (President)

MARINA ALLOISIO

MAILA CASTELLANO

DARIO CAVALLO

ANTONIO COMITE

SILVIA VICINI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Teaching is held during the first semester of the academic year. The teaching will start in November 2024, after the end of the first Modulus.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Details on how to prepare for the exam and the degree of depth of each topic will be given during the lessons.

The final evaluation will be considered the following weights for the various examination parts: 30% for the oral examination, 30% for the laboratory skills and 40% for the laboratory reports.

The oral examination is conducted by two professors. They will verify the achievement of the learning outcomes and when these are not met, the student is invited to extend the study. To ensure uniformity between the examination topics and those actually carried out during the course, a detailed program is illustrated in the AulaWeb page, so that students themselves can verify adherence.

For students with disabilities or with SLD, the examination methods are consistent with University regulation regarding the exams (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa). 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Both through the reports of the laboratory experiences and through the oral examination, the student's ability to discuss critically on the course topics, to elaborate the concepts presented in class and to integrate the information coming from the various topics by a personal study will be assessed. The ability to illustrate in detail the main polymer synthesis techniques and to apply the characterization techniques, showing their potentiality and limits, and demonstrating ability to interpret, compare and discuss the results obtained, in a clear way and with a correct scientific terminology will be evaluated; the quality of the oral presentation will be considered.