Key words
Macromolecular chemistry, polymer chemistry, organic chemistry
Objectives
Synthetic macromolecules or polymers form the basis of near all plastics materials. They are prepared from low molecular petrochemicals (monomers).
First, basic understanding of plastics is given or repeated.
Furthermore, a lot of properties of these materials have their origin in the polymerisation reactions. So the students must have insight in the different routes for synthesis, the industrial reaction conditions, the polymerisation kinetics and statistics and in the possibility to use comonomers.
Finally a number of physico-chemical analytical techniques for polymers are discussed.
In the practical exercises a few number of polymer syntheses are performed and the polymers obtained are analysed by physico-chemical methods. If possible, a visit to an industrial polymerisation plant is organised.
Topics
Part 1: theoretical session.
Basic understanding of plastics;
Discussion on the different polymerisation processes, chemically (step reactions, radical, ionic and coordination chain reactions), as well as industrial technically. Discussion on copolymerisation.
Physico-chemical analysis of polymers (GPC, IR, viscosity in solution, thermal techniques,…).
Part 2: practical session.
Synthesis and physico-chemical analysis of polymers. Eventually, visit of a polymerisation plant.
Prerequisites
The students must have a sufficient knowledge of the general and organic chemistry.
Part 1: theoretical session
Basic understanding of plastics;
Discussion on the different polymerisation processes, chemically (step reactions, radical, ionic and coordination chain reactions), as well as industrial technically. Discussion on copolymerisation.
Physico-chemical analysis of polymers (GPC, IR, viscosity in solution, thermal techniques,…)
Part 2: practical session
Synthesis and physico-chemical analysis of polymers. Eventually, visit of a polymerisation plant.
Final Objectives
General scientific competences [AWC1,AWC2,AWC3,AWC4]
The student is expected to think and to reason critically, creatively, scientifically about the course material and to apply the general insights to specific scientific problems. He (she) must be able, in an efficient way, to communicate and report about it. Relevant scientific and technical information concerning this course must be efficiently looked up, gathered and absorbed.
General competences [AC1]
The student must be able to discuss and to resolve problems in a team.
Specific competences [SC1, 2, 3]
The student must be able to master general chemical knowledge and skills; he must be able to execute polymer syntheses, to know the reaction mechanisms and to analyse, on a physico-chemical way, the so obtained polymers.
Materials used
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Teacher’s course, most recent edition, about 130 p. Additional notes and background information, given during the lectures, belong also to the examination subject.
Textbooks for optional background information:
* “Textbook of Polymer Science”, F.W. Billmeyer; Wiley Interscience, 1984;
* “Plastics”, Schouten en van der Vegt; Delta Press, 1992;
* “Polymers: Chemistry & Physics of Modern Materials”, J. Cowie; Blackie, 1991.
* Journals on polymers and plastics.
* See also reference lists in cited literature.
Study costs
About € 4.00 to buy the course material.
Study guidance
Students, individually or in group, have the possibility to make an appointment for additional explanation.
Teaching Methods
Contacting hours: lectures (theoretical session); guided practical exercises, where the possibly background information is gathered for oneself by the student (e.g. with the help of the literature).
Assessment
Part 1: theoretical session: written examination with oral explanation (open questions concerning the course and the additional notes) (80%).
Part 2: practical session: permanent evaluation and test (20%).
If in one of the sessions an evaluation of 7/20 or less is obtained, the points can be assigned by consensus and maybe no longer by the weighted average.
Lecturer(s)
Vanhee Paul, Diricks Greta
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