11262 - Chemistry of Macromolecules

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Chemistry and Materials Chemistry (cod. 8006)

Learning outcomes

At the end f the course the student has acquired knowledge on synthesis and characterization of macromolecular substances, as well as on the dependence of their physical properties on chemical structure. The student is able to select the appropriate polymerization mechanism for a given monomer, to describe the experimental methods for molecular weight characterization and for determination of the main thermal transitions, and to correlate thermal and mechanical properties with chemical structure.

Course contents

- Introduction: constitution, configuration, conformation of macromolecules; linear, branched, crosslinked macromolecules; homopolymers and copolymers

- Step-growth polymerization

- Free radical addition polymerization

- Ionic polymerization

- Copolymerization

- Tacticity and stereoregular polymerizations

- Average size of macromolecules in solution. Methods for molar mass characterization.

- Polymers in the amorphous state. Glass/rubber, glass transition.

- Partially crystalline polymers. Crystallization and melting.

- Structure-property correlations in polymers

Readings/Bibliography

J.M.G. Covie and V. Arrighi, "Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials", 3rd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2008.

Other books (in Italian language): F.Ciardelli et al., "Macromolecole, scienza e tecnologia", vol. I e II, Pacini, Pisa, 1986; M. Guaita et al., "Fondamenti di scienza dei polimeri", Pacini, Pisa, 1998.

Teaching methods

The course is composed of 48 hours of lectures

Assessment methods

Assessment by an oral examination (30-40 minutes) composed of three questions each focussing on one of the three main topics of the course: (1) polymerization processes, (2) macromolecules in solution and molar mass determination, (3) Thermal/mechanical properties and structure-property relations.

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC, slide projector

Office hours

See the website of Maria Letizia Focarete