Course Description
501 Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering
Physical and organic chemistry of polymers for persons with a basic training
in chemistry, physics, or engineering. A survey of preparative methods
of polymers; physical chemistry of polymer molecules in solution, liquid,
and solid phases; thermodynamics and statistics of polymers; methods of
characterization; mechanical properties, fabrication techniques. Prerequisites:
one semester of physical chemistry and one semester of organic chemistry.
For non-PSE students.
602 Polymer Characterization Laboratory
Characterization of polymers by up to fifteen methods, including spectroscopic
(nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman, infrared), mechanical (tensile, dynamic
mechanical, rheological), microscopic (electron and optical microscopy),
physiochemical (intrinsic viscosity, differential scanning, calorimetry,
gel permeation chromatography) and scattering (light, x-rays). Molecular
simulation techniques introduced. Lectures provide a state-of-the-art
description of these and additional polymer characterization methods.
603 Polymer Synthesis Laboratory
Preparation and characterization of the most important polymer types.
Radical, cationic, anionic polymerization; copolymerization; Ziegler-Natta
polymerization; step growth polymerization; suspension and emulsion polymerization;
group transfer polymerization; metathesis polymerization.
604 Introduction to Polymer Engineering
Physical and mathematical principles required to understand and solve
engineering problems encountered with polymeric materials. Vector and
tensor operations, stress-strain analysis of solids, fluid mechanics,
transport equations for mass and energy, nonlinear physical properties,
overview of polymer processing.
607 Introduction to Synthetic Polymer Chemistry
Polymer structure, classification of polymerization reactions, theory
and practice of step growth polymerization, radical polymerization, ionic
polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, polymerization by transition
metal catalysts.
608 Physical Chemistry of Polymers I
Review of classical and statistical thermodynamics, configuration and
conformation of isolated polymer chains, the rotational isomeric state
model, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of polymer solutions,
scaling theory, single chain dynamics, scattering (light, x-ray, neutron).
720 Viscoelasticity
Molecular foundations of polymer viscoelasticity. Rouse-Bueche theory,
Boltzmann superposition principle, mechanical models, distribution of
relaxation and retardation times, interrelationships between mechanical
spectra, the glass transition, secondary relaxations, dielectric relaxations.
721 Morphology of Polymers
Methods of structural characterization for important morphological classes
of polymers. Overview of scattering physics leading to a discussion of
specific techniques such as small and wide angle x-ray and transmission
electron microscopy. Polymeric materials surveyed include mesophases,
liquid crystalline polymers, polymer blends, block copolymers, and crystalline
polymers forming lamellae or spherulites.
731 Polymer Properties
Techniques for predicting the engineering and physical properties of
polymers from their molecular structures. Empirical, semi-empirical, and
theoretical methods, with emphasis on the group additivity approach. Properties
discussed include refractive index, density, glass transition temperature,
modulus, and compatibility.
733 Micromechanics
Effects of microstructure on the mechanics of polymeric media: deformation
modes, yield, rubber toughening, alloys and blends, fatigue and fracture
of highly filled systems.
735 Interaction of Radiation with Matter
Maxwell's equation, wave propagation and dispersion, index of refraction
and polarizability, absorption and the "Golden Rule," introduction
to nonlinear optics, scattering.
736 Polymer Surfaces
Discussion of theoretical and experimental methods providing insight
into polymer interfacial phenomena. Theoretical: surface dynamics, Gibbs
isotherm, gradient-square theory of interfaces, wetting. Experimental:
IR, optical, neutron, and x-ray reflectivity; contact angle; surface tensiometry;
scanning probe microscopy (atomic force, scanning tunnel); electron probes
(ESCA, EELS).
737 Polymer Reaction Engineering
Engineering principles applied to the analysis and design of polymerization
processes. Mathematical modeling of polymerization kinetics, ideal polymerization
reactors, heat and mass transfer, reactor dynamics and optimization, mixing
effects. Case studies of important industrial processes.
740 Vibrational Spectroscopy of Macromolecules
Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Concepts and algorithms of normal mode
analysis, symmetry analysis, Fermi resonance interactions, defect-induced
vibrational transitions, polarization phenomena, surface characterization.
742 Biopolymers
Structure, function, and physical properties of naturally-occurring polymers,
including proteins, polysaccharides, polyesters, and DNA. Methods of characterization
(nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, circular dichroism,
centrifugation, electrophoresis, chemical modification), polymer chemistry
of biological processes (visual transduction, synaptic transmission, ion
transport, chemical recognition).
745 Colloidal Phenomena
Classical and modern developments in colloid science. Colloid preparation,
Brownian motion, surface forces, particle-particle interactions (flocculation
and stabilization), thermodynamics, electrokinetic effects, mechanical
properties. Prerequisite: one semester of undergraduate physical chemistry.
757 Polymer Rheology
Definition and measurement of the material functions of complex fluids,
continuum mechanics of stress and deformation, constitutive equations
derived from both continuum and molecular theories, interrelation of material
functions for both shear and elongational flows, linear and nonlinear
elasticity and viscoelasticity, material functions of important classes
of polymeric fluids, the role of rheological properties in material characterization
and polymer processing. Prerequisite: PSE 604 or equivalent background
in fluid mechanics.
758 Polymer Processing
Application of engineering principles to the analysis of polymer processes
such as extrusion, roll coating, mixing, etc. Applied fluid dynamics with
attention to heat and mass transfer. Prerequisite: PSE 604 and 757.
760 Organic Polymerization Reaction
Mechanisms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of the principal polymerization
reactions. Recent special topics included liquid crystalline polymers,
piezoelectric polymers, bioploymers, olefin metathesis polymerization.
Prerequisite: PSE 607.
789 Physical Chemistry of Polymers II
Rubber elasticity, glass transition phenomena, phase separation kinetics,
crystallization thermodynamics and kinetics, physics of polymer crystals,
description and determination of crystalline and amorphous chain orientation.
790B Mechanics of Polymers and Composites
Behavior of composite materials from both microstructural and continuum
modeling perspectives. Methods of computing average properties discussed
and compared with experimental data. Review of anisotropic linear elasticity
and the failure criterion of anisotropic materials
790B Engineering and Scientific Managment
797G Excellence in Polymer Education
Large-scale industrial processes, industrial research and development,
defining a research project, ethics in science, leadership skills, teamwork,
management skills, and polymers in today's society.
797N Advanced NMR Spectroscopy
Modern pulsed FT NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional methods
and CP-MAS spectroscopy. Hands-on operation of instruments.
797R Advanced Polymer Technologies
Lecture series by visiting industrial scientists focused on the important
materials and technologies of the polymer industry. Topics surveyed in
the recent series were water-soluble polymers, polymers for nonlinear
optics, polymers in photoimaging, engineering plastics, polymer composites,
intellectual property rights, and fibers.
797T Statistical Mechanics of Polymers I
Random walks, fractals, scaling, perturbation and renormalization group
theories, phase diagrams, spinodal decomposition, liquid crystallinity,
gelation, and percolation.
797X Advanced Polymer Engineering
An Introduction to the fields of polymer rheology, polymer yield and
fracture, and polymer viscoelasticity. Topics will be discussed equally
at all relevant scales, from the molecular to the macroscopic. Desgned
to provide a basic knowledge of each field for the nonspecialist polymer
scientist or engineer while offering adequate background for more advance
work in PSE 720, PSE 733, or PSE 757. Prerequisite: PSE 604
891A/891 Seminar
Invited lectures by visiting academic and industrial scientists. Held
regularly on Friday afternoons throughout the academic year. PSE students
are required to register and attend.
