INTRODUCTION TO POLYMERS

 

Syllabus for Fall Semester 2001

EMA 3066 (3 credits);  Section 4937

 

Course Description:  The goal of this course is to provide students in the College of Engineering with the basic concepts necessary to understand polymer science and engineering.  This introductory course is designed to be a broad overview of many topics in polymer science, and will not go into great depth.  The topics to be covered will be broken down into three categories-  (1) polymer structure and characteristics, (2) properties and processing of polymers, and (3) polymer synthesis.

 

Time:  M,W,F: 5th period (11:45am to 12:35am)                               Place:  TUR 2319                     

 

Instructor:  Laurie A. Gower, Assistant Professor                             TA:   Jennifer Hite

                     Dept. of Materials Science & Engineering                               Dept. of MSE

                     210A Rhines Hall                                                                 

                     846-3336                                                                             

                     E-mail: lgowe@mse.ufl.edu                                                   

 

Office Hours:  M,W: 7th period (2:00pm), or by appointment                     MWF: 3rd period

 

Textbook:       Fundamentals of Polymer Science; 2nd Edition, by Paul C. Painter & Michael M. Coleman, Technomic Publishing Company (1997). ISBN: 1-56676-559-5

           

Homework:  Reading assignments and selected problems, approximately weekly.

 

Class Listserv:  An WebCT discussion board will be available to the students, which will provide a forum for specific questions related to the homework or other supplementary material.  A synchronous chat room will also be available during the instructors office hours for online assistance.

 

Grading:*        Homework-     20%     (with lowest grade dropped)

                        First exam-       20%

                        Second exam- 20%

                        Team project- 20%

Final exam-      20%    (comprehensive, with emphasis on last third of course)

               

*- Exams will be held during the evenings to provide sufficient time, with class cancelled on that day; and an optional review session will be held on an evening before an exam.

  - A handout describing the team project in detail will be provided.

  - Requests for adjustment to any grade should occur during the 1 week period following the posted grade in question, and must be approved by course instructor (the TA can not change grades!).

  - Homework should be turned in at the beginning of class.  No late submissions will be accepted in order that solutions can be posted promptly after class.  NO EXCEPTIONS!  This includes graduating seniors with job interviews. You can turn it in early or email it to me if you miss class.

 

We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.                 - University of Florida Honor Code, 1995


Tentative Schedule (8-22-01)


Lecture #

Month

Date

Chapter and Subject

Reading Assignment

 

 

 

I. Structure & Characteristics of Polymers

Chapter:  pages

1

Aug.

W 22

Introduction

Chapter 1: 1-3

2

 

F 24

Drawing organic structures

supplement

3

 

M 27

Types of Polymers

4-8, 13-16

4

 

W 29

Isomerism

8-13

5

 

F 31

Molecular Weight

16-24

 

Sept.

M 3

Labor Day Holiday (no class)

 

6

 

W 5

Structure:  Bonding

Chapter 7:  207-217

7

 

F 7

Conformations

218-224

8

 

M 10

Chain dimensions

224-237

9

 

W 12

Morphology: Crystallinity

237-242

10

 

F 14

Crystal structure

242-256

11

 

M 17

Thermo and Statistical Mechanics (Cryst.)

Chapter 8:  259-277

12

 

W 19

Kinetics of Crystallization

278-282

13

 

F 21

Factors effecting Tm

283-290

14

 

M 24

Glass transition

290-297

15

 

W 26

Factors effecting Tg

298-303

 

 

 

II. Processing and Properties of Polymers

 

16

 

F 28

Thermodynamics of Solutions and Blends

Chapter 9:  307-321

17

Oct.

M 1

Phase Behavior

321-330

 

 

T 2

Review Session à optional (7:20 p.m.)

 

 

 

W 3

Exam 1 in evening (no class)

Covers Chapters 1,7, 8

18

 

F 5

Excluded Volume and Theta Temperature

330-335

19

 

M 8

Mechanical- stress/strain, viscosity

Chapter 11:  395-404

20

 

W 10

Types of polymer behavior

404-412

21

 

F 12

Viscosity of Polymer Melts

412-415

22

 

M 15

Viscoelasticity

416-422

23

 

W 17

Experimental measurement- creep, Er, tan d

423-429

24

 

F 19

Time-Temperature Superposition

441-446

25

 

M 22

Nonlinear behavior- rubber elasticity

449-456

26

 

W 24

Nonlinear behavior- melt flow

457-458

27

 

F 26

Ultimate properties; stability; additives

459-466, supplement

28

 

M 29

Processing: molding, extrusion

video, supplement

29

 

W 31

solution casting, coatings

supplement

30

Nov.

(change

F 2

clocks)

Homecoming Holiday (no class) 

 

31

 

M 5

adhesives, water treatment

supplement

 

 

 

III.  Synthesis of Polymers

 

32

 

W 7

Step-Growth (Condensation) Polym.:

Chapter 2:29-39 (83-93)

 

 

F 9

Networks and Gelation

39-40 (96-104)

 

 

M 12

Veteran’s Day Holiday  (no class)

 

 

 

T 13

Review Session à optional (7:20 p.m.)

 

 

 

W 14

Exam 2 in evening (no class)

Covers Chapters 9, 11, and Supplements

33

 

F 16

Chain-Growth (Addition) Polymerization:

40-46, 71

34

 

M 19

Free Radical Mechanism, chain transfer

(68-75, 78-79)

35

 

W 21

Ionic (Insertion/Coordination) Polym.

46-52

 

 

F 23

Thanksgiving Holiday (no class)

 

36

 

M 26

Catalysts: Ziegler Nata, metallocene

53-54, supplement

37

 

W 28

Polymerization Processes

54-60

38

 

F 30

Copolymerization

Chapter 5:  107-115 (129-136)

39

Dec.

M 3

Determination of MW: Osmotic, LS

Chapter 10:  339-345, 349-352, 360-363

 

 

M 3

Team Project Presentations (5:30pm)

 

 

 

T 4

Team Project Presentations (5:30pm)

 

40

 

W 5

MW: Viscometry & SEC

363-368, 370-381

 

 

F 7

Reading Day (no class)

 

 

 

W 12

Review Session à optional (7:20 p.m.)

 

 

 

F 14

Final Exam: (14A: 7:30 a.m.– 9:30 a.m.)

Comprehensive & Chapters 2, 5, 10