CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF POLYMERS
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Elementary knowledge of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry I, Physical Chemistry.
The examination consists of a written test based on 5 open questions related to theory topics. Each question will be associated to a score.
Four questions are aimed at ascertaining the level of knowledge and the ability to understand the topics, as well as the ability to use the appropriate scientific terminology and logical organization of the discussion. One among the five questions is aimed at verifying the ability to correctly apply theoretical knowledge to solving practical problems related to polymer technology and to verify the logical-deductive capabilities acquired.
The course aims to provide students with specific knowledge of the chemistry of polymers, the language used in the chemistry of macromolecules and their representation through chemical structures of homopolymers and copolymers, as well as providing the basic tools for understanding the mechanisms of production of macromolecules and property-structure correlations.
At the end of the course the student is able to identify the polymerization mechanism suitable for a given monomer, describe the experimental methods to characterize the molecular weight and the main thermal transitions of the polymer obtained, to correlate the thermal and mechanical properties with the chemical structure.
It is also able to understand which additives need to be added to a polymer with certain chemical-physical characteristics to obtain a final product with the desired physical-mechanical properties.
Macromolecules: definitions and general aspects. Polymerization processes. Polymerisability requirements: functionality of the monomers, thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the polymerization process. Stereochemistry and regiochemistry. Polymerization techniques. Chain and stage polymerizations: generalities. (6 hours)
Radical polymerization: kinetic and mechanistic aspects. Controlled radical polymerizations (ATRP, ARGET-ATRP, RAFT). Anionic and cationic polymerization. Ring opening polymerization (Ring Opening Polymerization). (8 hours)
Stage polymerization. Kinetic aspects. Conversion and average degree of polymerization. Multi-purpose stage polymerization. (4 hours)
Stereospecific or coordination polymerization. Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The structure of the active site. The polymerization mechanism and steric control. Catalytic systems based on metallocenes. The structure of metallocenes: symmetry and stereospecificity. The cocatalyst. Polymerization mechanism. Homogeneous "post-metallocene" Ziegler-Natta catalysis. (8 hours)
Copolymers. Radical copolymerizations and distribution of the chain composition. (4 hours)
Molecular masses of polymers. Molecular mass distribution. Average molecular masses in number and weight. Polydispersity. Characterization methods of molecular masses. The glass transition temperature is the free volume model. Methods for measuring Tg. (6 hours)
Elastomers and vulcanization. Crystalline polymers and amorphous polymers. Thermoplastics and thermosets. Outline of mechanical properties. Industrial processes for polymer workability. Examples of commonly used polymers and highly technological polymers: characteristics, applications and recycling. (12 hours)
Macromolecules: definitions and general aspects. Polymerization processes. Polymerisability requirements: functionality of the monomers, thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the polymerization process. Stereochemistry and regiochemistry. Polymerization techniques. Chain and stage polymerizations: generalities. (6 hours)
Radical polymerization: kinetic and mechanistic aspects. Controlled radical polymerizations (ATRP, ARGET-ATRP, RAFT). Anionic and cationic polymerization. Ring opening polymerization (Ring Opening Polymerization). (8 hours)
Stage polymerization. Kinetic aspects. Conversion and average degree of polymerization. Multi-purpose stage polymerization. (4 hours)
Stereospecific or coordination polymerization. Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The structure of the active site. The polymerization mechanism and steric control. Catalytic systems based on metallocenes. The structure of metallocenes: symmetry and stereospecificity. The cocatalyst. Polymerization mechanism. Homogeneous "post-metallocene" Ziegler-Natta catalysis. (8 hours)
Copolymers. Radical copolymerizations and distribution of the chain composition. (4 hours)
Molecular masses of polymers. Molecular mass distribution. Average molecular masses in number and weight. Polydispersity. Characterization methods of molecular masses. The glass transition temperature is the free volume model. Methods for measuring Tg. (6 hours)
Elastomers and vulcanization. Crystalline polymers and amorphous polymers. Thermoplastics and thermosets. Outline of mechanical properties. Industrial processes for polymer workability. Examples of commonly used polymers and highly technological polymers: characteristics, applications and recycling. (12 hours)
“Sintesi di polimeri” di Elisabetta Princi. Edizioni Nuova Cultura
Other material will be made available via e-learning
The course includes lectures carried out in the classroom (48 h).
Reception time: upon appointment, as agreed via e-mail, using the official student’s address: @studenti.uninsubria.it
Professor’s e-mail address: lorella.izzo@uninsubria.it