OVERVIEW

Polymeric materials are formulations having a polymer or a mixture of polymers as the main component.

Polymeric materials are extremely versatile and, therefore, widely used in industrial domains and daily activities. This class provides the fundamentals to the knowledge of these materials, placing particular emphasis on the structure-property relationships, which justify their widespread use.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The subject of the course is materials having a polymer or a mixture of polymers as their main component. The basic knowledge for the study of polymeric matrix materials will be provided, describing the main classes of polymers with their respective sectors of use and the most common molecular and chemical-physical characterization techniques, also through laboratory exercises

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is an introductory class to the science and technology of polymeric materials, the main objective of which is to highlight the correlation between the composition and properties of polymeric materials and the experimental data derived from their characterization. To pursue this aim, lectures are always accompanied by examples related to the use of polymeric materials in everyday life and industrial practice.

The learning outcomes expected at the teaching end are:

- to know the molecular structure of the most common polymers and to be able to classify them according to various parameters;

- to be able to relate the chemical, physical, mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of polymeric materials to their composition and structure;

- to be able to use appropriate terminology in the description of phenomena and processes involving polymeric materials;

- to be able to identify and interpret the information provided by the most common thermal characterization techniques of polymeric materials;

- to be able to identify and interpret the information provided by the most common techniques for determining the molecular mass of polymers.

The class is entirely borrowed for the students of the Bachelor Degree in Science of Materials. Moreover, it is frequently chosen as an optional class for 4 CFUs. In the latter case, the learning outcomes do not include the last point of the aforementioned list.

PREREQUISITES

Students of the Bachelor Degree in Chemistry and Chemical Technologies must have passed the exam in Organic Chemistry 1.

No official prerequisite for the students of the Bachelor Degree in Science of Materials, though it is recommended to have passed the exams of General and Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.

TEACHING METHODS

The class consists of traditional lectures for a total of 40 hours (5 CFU) and a theoretical-practical laboratory part of 13 hours (1 CFU). Attendance at laboratory activities is compulsory.

During the practical activities, the students, divided into groups, will have to apply the experimental protocols proposed for the characterization of polymeric materials under the guidance of the professor in charge. At the end of the experimental activity, students will have to deliver a brief report with the results obtained.

Organization and dates of the laboratory activities will be communicated at the end of the traditional lectures.

To facilitate learning, lesson notes are uploaded to the corresponding aul@web page simultaneously with their presentation in the classroom.

In addition, quizzes, tests (lasting one hour each) and exam simulations are uploaded on the same webpage. These activities are to be done asynchronously to the lectures to check individual preparation.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part I (4 CFU):

Basics on polymers and polymeric materials.

Polymer chain structure: composition, configuration, conformation.

Nomenclature of polymers.

Classification of polymers according to different parameters (chain structure, degree and mechanism of polymerization, origin, mechanical, thermal and processing properties, life cycle).

Solid state in polymers: amorphous and crystalline states, glass transition temperature and parameters affecting it, melting and crystallization temperatures and parameters affecting them, thermodynamics and kinetics of the melt-crystallization process.

Structure, properties and areas of use of main amorphous, semi-crystalline, thermosetting and elastomeric polymers.

Solid-state characterization techniques (densitometry, differential scanning calorimetry, determination of the crystallinity degree, thermogravimetric analysis).

Part II (1 CFU):

Determination techniques of polymers’ molecular mass (osmometry, viscosimetry, light scattering, ultracentrifugation, molecular exclusion chromatography).

Part III (1 technical-practical CFU).

Two laboratory experiences on:

- fractionation of a polydisperse sample of poly(oxyethylene) in aqueous solution;

- molecular mass determination of poly(oxyethylene) fractions by density gradient characterization and rheological analysis.

Second and third parts of the program are not provided to students who attend the lessons for 4 CFUs.

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

As a quality assurance, the detailed class program is uploaded to the corresponding aula@web page, so the students can verify the correspondence between topics and learning outcomes.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following supporting texts are suggested limited to the program contents:

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

Introduction to synthetic polymers – I. M. Campbell – Oxford Press, 2000 – 2nd edition.

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.

Specific indication on reference bibliography regarding the program parts will be provided by the professor at the beginning of the lectures.

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The class is held on the first semester. The lessons timetable is available within the link below:

https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written test and an oral test conducted by two professors (including the professor in charge).

During the calendar year, seven official exam sessions are scheduled, distributed in the time intervals established by the Manifesto degli Studi and the Regolamento del Corso di Studio of the Degree Courses involved. Extraordinary exam sessions outside the as-indicated periods will be granted only to students overdue with their curriculum studiorum.

The written test consists of two parts, the contribution of which to the exam evaluation is specified below:

- the first part consists in the interpretation and discussion of experimental data deriving from the characterization of polymeric materials; the first part of the written test is awarded a maximum rating of 14/30;

- the second part consists of a test composed of four questions (multiple and/or open choice) on four different program topics; the second part of the written test is awarded a maximum rating of 10/30.

The content of the written test is differentiated according to the number of CFUs in the study plan.

The oral test, which is given a maximum grade of 6/30, is diversified according to the number of CFUs in the study plan:

- for students attending the teaching for 6 CFUs, the oral test consists of the discussion of the laboratory report (3/30) and a question on the properties of a polymer or a class of polymers (3/30).

- for students attending the teaching for 4 CFU, the oral test consists of two questions on the properties of a polymer or a class of polymers (6/30).

Students enter the oral test if they have acquired a score of 12/30 or higher in the written test; if the students have acquired a score of 18/30 or higher in the written test, the oral test is optional.

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).

We recommend the students who wish to discuss accommodation regarding the exams to contact by e-mail the professor in charge and the contact person for disability at the School of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences (sergio.didomizio@unige.it) at least 10 days before the examination date.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination will aim to check the effective achievement of the learning outcomes by the student relatively to:

- the capability to correlate the properties of polymeric materials to their composition and structure;

- the capability to compare and integrate the data available from various experimental characterization techniques and from the correlation structure-property models included in the teaching program.

Moreover, the examination will assess if the student has reached an adequate level of topics mastery and language skills.

Otherwise, the students are invited to deepen their preparation also by taking advantage of further explanations by the professor before repeating the exam.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor in charge for other information not included in the teaching schedule.