Physicochemistry of Polymers 0600-S2-EN-PP

Basic terminology of polymers. Natural and synthetic polymers. Different divisions of polymers. Mechanisms of polymer synthesis. Thermodynamics and kinetics of polymerisation. Basic properties of polymers (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, PA) and their practical applications.
Concepts of number, weight, viscosimetric and z-avergae molecular weights and degree of polymerization. Basics of densitometry of polymers. Step-growth and chain-growth polymerization, mechanism, examples of reactions, differences, radical and ionic polymerization. Polymerization processes (bulk, solvent, suspension, and emulsion polymerization). Recycling of polymers.
Molecular structure of polymer chains. Conformation and configuration of polymer chain, isomerism (regularity and tacticity). Primary, secondary and tertiary structure of polymers. Physical states of polymers, glassy and semi-crystalline polymers.
Overview of polymer processing methods (extrusion, injection moulding). Fundamentals of thermal analysis of polymers with particular emphasis on the method of DSC. Application of the method of DSC to studying the properties and processing of polymers: the temperature and enthalpy of the phase transition of amorphous polymers and semi-crystalline polymers. Polymer processing methods and restrictions on the use of polymer recyclates.

Total student workload

Contact hours with teacher: 60 - participation in lectures - 30 hrs - participation in lab courses - 30 hrs Self-study hours: 40 - preparation for lectures – 10 hrs - reading literature- 20 hrs - preparation for lab and data analysis- 35 hrs - preparation for examination- 40 hrs Altogether: 185 hrs (6. ECTS)

Learning outcomes - knowledge

W1: has basic knowledge of basic aspects of the polymers and methods of characteristics of physicochemical properties. He has the knowledge to the deliberate use of polymers for a particular purpose, practical methods of management after usage (recycling polymer materials)– K_W13 W2: knows the rules of health and safety at work with polymeric materials. – K_W16

Learning outcomes - skills

Student U1: is able to use the nomenclature of the polymeric materials (practical and terminology recommended by the IUPAC))– K_U01, U2: has the ability to perform basic physicochemical measurements of polymeric and is able to interpret experimental results of the measurements - K_U05 U3: is able to synthesize basic polymer compounds - K_U10 U4: is able to determine the structure and function of macromolecular compounds - K_U11 U5: knows how to find the relationship between the behavior of polymeric materials during the formation using different methods (injection, extrusion, thermoforming) and their physico-chemical properties and structure. – K_U13 U6: is able to use the modern foreign language at the intermediate level (B2) in the preparation of literature for the diploma thesis. – K_U13

Learning outcomes - social competencies

K1: - Graduate is able to efficiently organize efficiently work in laboratory K2: Graduate is able to recognize the problem and solve it K3: Graduate can properly formulate conclusions based on laboratory observations K4: Graduate is able to successfully and systematically conduct laboratory experiments K5: Graduate is able to cooperate in with other persons and work in a team

Course coordinators

Wojciech Kujawski

Teaching methods

- informative lecture - laboratory exercises

Expository teaching methods

- informative (conventional) lecture

Exploratory teaching methods

- laboratory

Online teaching methods

- cooperation-based methods
- exchange and discussion methods
- content-presentation-oriented methods

Type of course

elective course

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of organic chemistry, physical chemistry, instrumental analysis, general chemistry and chemistry IT.

Assessment criteria

Assessment methods:
- exam: W1
- activity: U1-U10, K1-K5

Assessment criteria:

fail- below 50 pts (50%)
satisfactory- 50-60 pts (50-60%)
satisfactory plus- 61-65 pts (61-65%)
good – 66-75 pts (66-75%)
good plus- 76-80 pts (76-80%)
very good- 81-100 pts (81-100%)

Practical placement

not relevant

Bibliography

1. C. Tanford, Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules, Wiley, New York 1963.
2. J. Brandrup, E.H. Immergut, Polymer Handbook, Wiley, New York, 1989.
3. John Scheirs; Compositional and failure analysis of polymers; John Wiley & Sons, LTD 2000.
4. P. J. Flory, Principles of Polymer Chemistry. New York 1953.
5. J. W. Nicholson, The chemistry of polymers, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, 1997
6. B. J. Hunt, M. I. James (eds), Polymer characterization, Blackie Academic & Professional, Chapman & Hall, London, 1993.
7. L. Reich, S. S. Stivala, Elements of Polymer Degradation, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York 1971
8. I. M. Ward, Ian Macmillan, Mechanical properties of solid polymers, Wiley- Interscience, London 1971.

Term 2024/25Z:

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 0600-S2-EN-PP in USOSweb