OVERVIEW

The teaching "Synthesis and Industrial Production of Polymers" provides the general and practical concepts of macromolecule synthesis, necessary to address their large-scale production.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the teaching is to provide the general concepts of the synthesis of polymers, including those from renewable sources, necessary to approach their large-scale production. At the end of the course, by attending and participating the proposed educational activities and by the individual study, the students will be able to: i) know the methodologies for the synthesis of industrial interest macromolecules, ii) deduce, on the basis of the chemical-physical properties of the used monomers, the most suitable synthesis method and iii) establish the polymerization conditions (temperature, time, type of reactor, etc.) on the basis of the final characteristics of the polymer material and the cost-effectiveness of the process. Theoretical concepts will be deepened in lab activities devoted to the synthesis and characterization of macromolecules

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the teaching is to provide the general concepts of macromolecule synthesis, necessary to address their large-scale production. At the end of the course, through attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities and individual study, the student will be able to: i) know the methodologies for the synthesis of macromolecules of industrial interest, ii) deduce the most appropriate synthesis method based on the chemical-physical properties of the monomers used and iii) know the polymerization conditions (temperature, time, reactor type, etc.) based on the final characteristics of the polymer material and the cost-effectiveness of the process. The theoretical concepts will be explored in laboratory activities dedicated to the synthesis and characterization of macromolecules.

PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites are required for this course.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching is divided into two parts. A theoretical part (6 CFU) includes frontal lessons also carried out through discussion with the students and a laboratory part (3 CFU) which includes a practical activity dealing with synthesis and characterization of some polymers, covered in the first part of the teaching. Attendance at the laboratory exercises and preparatory laboratory lessons for these activities is mandatory.

A copy of the slides, presented in class, will be available on AulaWeb and can be used as a basis for studying. The slides can only be a reference for the study of the topics covered to be combined with attendance at lessons, laboratories or study of the suggested texts. In order to stimulate discussion with students, scenarios will be proposed that may present only relevant information (defined as well structured) or even irrelevant information (defined as ill-structured). This teaching methodology will be applied to describe a real or hypothetical situation, short and general, on which to discuss and make decisions. The laboratory will be held by one of the two teachers of the teaching, the students, divided into small groups, will have to actively apply the experimental protocol provided and the methods described. At the end of the activities, the students will have to 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

THEORETICAL PART (6CFU, Prof. Monticelli Orietta)

- General concepts on macromolecular chemistry and polymerization

- Step-growth polymerizations

Definition of the average degree of polymerization; kinetics and thermodynamics of polymerizations; reaction mechanisms; polyfunctional step-growth polymerization; application of step-growth polymerization in the industrial production of polymers (polyamides, polyesters and polyurethanes).

- Industrial production of aliphatic polyesters from renewable sources

- Synthesis of dendritic macromolecules

- Industrial production of resins

- Chain polymerization

Study of kinetics; transfer reactions; degree of polymerization; gel effect. Suspension and emulsion polymerizations. Application of chain polymerization in the industrial production of polymers (PS, PE, copolymers, etc.).

- Synthesis of vitrimer systems (notes)

- Emulsion and suspension polymerization

- Copolymerizations

Study of kinetics; reactivity ratios; examples of industrial copolymerization processes.

- Ionic polymerizations

- Coordination polymerizations: Ziegler Natta catalysis

Application of Ziegler-Natta catalysts in the industrial production of polymers (PP and PE).

LABORATORY PART (3 CFU, Prof. Silvia Vicini)

Syntheses of bulk, emulsion and interfacial polymers will be carried out, after purifying monomer and initiator with different methods. The synthesis parameters, such as the concentration of monomer, initiator, surfactant, will be correlated with the yields and molecular masses of the polymers obtained. The results will be discussed by the students, comparing the data obtained by each group that will have operated in different synthesis conditions. This experience will allow students to apply some fundamental concepts analyzed in the theoretical part of the teaching. The polymers will be fractionated and characterized through viscosimetric measurements with an Ubbelohde viscometer, so as to obtain their viscosimetric molecular weights.

The laboratory experiments will end with a discussion on the results obtained and with the setting of the final reports to be delivered as an integral part of the exam.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

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

- George Odian, Principles of Polymerization, Wiley

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The start of the lessons will be available on the Course website.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Details on the methods of preparation for the exam and the level of depth of each topic will be given during the lessons.

The learning assessment is carried out through a final oral exam, conducted by the two teachers of the teaching, lasting about 60 minutes, which verifies both the student's reasoning ability and the ability to solve simple practical problems. The exam must be able to assess whether the student has acquired the main concepts inherent in the preparation of polymeric materials and whether he/she is able to apply them to simple real situations. As regards laboratory activity, students will be required to submit the reports of the laboratory experiences, which will be evaluated based on their content and form, at the end of the course.

In general, at least three questions will be asked, two on the theoretical part (one on the theoretical aspects of polymer synthesis and one on industrial examples) that will each weigh 35% on the final evaluation and one on the laboratory part that will weigh 30% on the final grade. In particular, for this last part, the evaluation will be based on the oral exam (30%), on the laboratory reports (40%) and on the performance (accuracy, behavior, punctuality, order) of the practical activities (30%).

With these methods, the Commission is able to verify the achievement of the educational objectives of the teaching. In the event that these are not achieved, the student is invited to study in depth, also requesting any additional explanations from the teachers. To ensure that the exam topics correspond to those covered during the course, both the detailed program and the course lesson register are inserted in the AulaWeb page, so that the students themselves can verify their adherence.

In cases of emergency and only following specific provisions expressly issued by the University of Genoa, the method of carrying out the exams may be modified, providing for the possibility of taking the test online.

For students with disabilities or DSA, the exam methods are aligned with the University regulations for carrying out profit exams (https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Both through the oral exam and the laboratory experience reports, the student's ability to critically reflect on the topics presented, to have developed and made their own the concepts presented in class and to have integrated the information from the various topics through personal study will be assessed. In particular, the ability to illustrate in detail the main polymer synthesis techniques, both from a theoretical and practical point of view, and to apply this knowledge to industrial production, demonstrating the ability to interpret, compare and discuss the various topics clearly and with correct scientific terminology will be assessed; the quality of the presentation will be considered.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) are reminded that in order to request adaptations during the exam, they must first enter the certification on the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the "Students" section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Services for the inclusion of students with disabilities and DSA.

Subsequently, well in advance (at least 10 days) of the exam date, an email must be sent to the teacher with whom the exam will be taken, copying both the School Contact Teacher for the inclusion of students with disabilities and DSA (sergio.didomizio@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above. In the email, it is necessary to specify:

• the name of the course

• the date of the exam

• the surname, name and student number

• the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures deemed functional and requested.

The contact person will confirm to the teacher that the applicant has the right to request adaptations during the exam and that such adaptations must be agreed with the teacher. The teacher will respond by communicating whether it is possible to use the requested adaptations.

Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the exam date in order to allow the teacher to evaluate the content. In particular, if you intend to use concept maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for studying) if the submission does not respect the expected times there will not be the technical time necessary to make any changes.

For further information regarding the request for services and adaptations, consult the document: “Guidelines for the request for services, compensatory tools and/or dispensatory measures and specific aids.”