Course contents
Introduction to macromolecular chemistry
Homopolymers and copolymers, configuration and
stereoregularity, macromolecules conformations, polymerization
process, molecular weight and molecular weight distribution,
structure - properties correlations
Step growth polymerization
Step growth reactions, experimental parameters effects on step
growth polymerization , examples of step growth polymerization
Chain polymerization
Radical polymerization, radical polymerization techniques,
cationic polymerization, anionic polymerization, Ziegler Natta
polymerization.
Copolymers
Copolymers classification, reactivity ratio definitions and their
effect on copolymer composition, copolymers synthesis
Polymer reactions
Functionalization of polymers, industrial examples of polymer
reactions, polymer crosslinking
Polymer crystallinity
Crystallization from polymer melt, crystallization degree and its
experimental determination, polymer crystallization kinetic
Molecular weight
Determination of polymer molecular weight by colligative
properties, viscosimetry, size exclusion chromatography, other
methods for molecular weight determination
Glass transition temperature
Definition of glass transition, internal and external factors
influencing glass transition, glass transition determination
Polymeric materials degradation
Thermal and chemical degradation of polymers, depolymerization
techniques, polymer recycle, compatibilization, thermovalorization
In laboratory some experiences related to the Polymer Science
will be carried out:
- Synthesis and characterization of polymers
copolymers
- Polymeric materials identification
- Determination of phisico – chemical parameters of polymers
Readings/Bibliography
- Associazione Italiana di Scienza e Tecnologia delle
Macromolecole,Fondamenti di Scienza dei Polimeri ,
Pacini editore (1998)
- S. Bruckner, G. Allegra, M. Pegoraro, F.P. La
Mantia, Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali
Polimerici , Edises editore (2001)