66680 - Polymer’s Chemistry

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Industrial Chemistry (cod. 8513)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student posses knowledge of the main chemical procedures and instrumental techniques useful for the recognition of the molecular structure and the determination of the composition of macromolecular compounds.

He also learned useful experimental methods to study the thermal behavior in different test conditions and the main processes of degradation of macromolecules of synthetic origin by chemical and physical influences.

Course contents

Prerequisites:

Knowledge of basic polymer science as well as techniques for the elucidation of low molecular weight structures and their quantification

 

Course presentation

1. Identification of plastics materials
Introduction
Common materials: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers
Sample preparation
Preliminary tests: solubility, density, behavior on heating
Pyrolysis test, flame behavior
Determination of the presence of heteroatoms

2. Analysis NMR
Proton, carbon, DEPT spectra, two-dimensional COSY, HMBC, HSQC spectra
NMR spectra of polymers
Determination of constitution and configuration of polymers
Analysis of copolymers
Determination of the presence of side chains
Microtacticity and determination of stereregularity
Analysis of products containing asymmetric carbon atomSolid NMR spectra


3. IR Spectroscopy
Sample preparation
Identification of polymers
Determination copolymers composition
ATR spectra

4. Determination of molecular weights of polymers
Absolute and relative technicals
Gel Permeation Chromatography: effect of operating variables
Universal Calibration
Determination of molecular weight by assay of the terminal groups
Light Scattering. Detector LALLS
Melt Flow Index

5. Thermal analysis
Thermogravimetric analysis
Effect of experimental variables on the analysis
Information resulting from the TGA
Polymers in solid form: amorphous phase and crystalline phase
Differential Thermal Analysis
Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Determination of Tg, Tm, Tc and cristallinity degree by DSC analysis
Influence of experimental variables on the analysis
Modulated DSC
Thermomechanical analysis and dynamic-mechanical analysis
Relaxations
Interpretation of DTMA results

6. Microscopy
Polarized light microscopy
Electron microscopy SEM and TEM
Atomic Force Microscopy

7. X-ray diffraction
Determination of crystalline degree of polymers

8. Determination of the main mechanical properties

 

9. Different classes of polymer's additives

Example on phatalate products used as plasticizer


Readings/Bibliography

Students can use the notes provide by the teacher

 

Some content are present in the texts:

S. Vicini, E. Princi, "Tecniche di caratterizzazione di Polimeri", Edizioni Nuova Cultura (2013)

B. Stuart, "Polymer analysis", Wiley (2002)

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures held in the classroom, on the resolution of exercises covering the topics addressed and discussions with students

Assessment methods

The verification test is intended to determine the level reached for the objectives set out in the "Learning outcomes"

The final exam consists of an oral exam that focuses on the entire course program.

The teacher usually asks 3 questions on various topics, the first topic if requested from the student, can be addressed through critical discussion of an article or a technical report provided by the teacher in advance.

During the examination the knowledge gained will be checked through critical discussion of the topics covered also using experimental results

Teaching tools

Videoprjection of the lessons is used in classroom.   
The students are also able to obtain directly the above material form the University Digital Library Service.  

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Caretti