Polymer Science
Code
1154
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Química
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
Ana Maria Martelo Ramos
Weekly hours
10
Total hours
72
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
The objectives of this curricular unit are:
1. To acquire a background on polymer science which enable the student to correlate the chemical structure, molar mass distribution (average molar mass and polydispersity), polymer chain length and morphology with the physical behaviour of the polymer, in order to be able to understand and to forecast possible final applications.
2. To have a knowledge about the mechanisms and kinetics of polymerization reactions, the correlation between the average degree of polymerization and the rate law, the effect of temperature on the rate law and to be able to use them on the design of a polymerization reactor.
3. To have knowledge about the main industrial polymerization processes.
Prerequisites
It is not necessary any requisite.
Subject matter
Definition and nomenclature of macromolecules.
Brief history of polymers.
Classification of polymers concerning: synthesis and mechanisms, monomers nature in the chain, stereoisomerism, final use, processing, molecular structure, morphology and mechanical properties.
Polymer identification methods.
Study of polymers behaviour in solution.
Definition of average molecular weights and its distributions; respective determination methods, absolute and non absolutes.
Mechanical behaviour of polymeric materials (models and real behaviour).
Specific transition temperatures and its correlation with the morphology.
Crystallization mechanism. Crystalline polymers morphology: micelles and spherulitic models.
Polymer additives.
General characteristics of step growth and chain polymerisation reactions.
Step growth polymerisation: functionality, types of reactions (esterification, close and ring opening reactions; synthesis of polyurethanes, polyamides and polyesters) and mechanisms. Kinetics of linear polymerisation. Chain reaction polymerisation.
Radical, cationic and anionic polymerisation. Types of initiation. Mechanism and kinetic study. Dependence of rate law and polymerisation degree on the type of termination reactions; chain transfer reactions. Stabilizers and inhibitors of radical polymerisations. Live polymerisation.
Coordination polimerisation. Stereospecific catalysts: Ziegler-Natta and metallocenes catalysts.
Radical copolymerisation. Classical copolymerisation kinetics based on the terminal Mayo-Lewis kinetic model.
Bibliography
J.M.G. Cowie, V. Arrighi, Polymers: Chemistry & Physics of Modern Materials, CRC Press, 3rd Ed., 2007
G. Odian, Principles of Polymerization, John Wiley & Sons, 4th Ed, 2004
Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr., Textbook of Polymer Science, Wiley Intersci., 3ª Ed., 1984
F. Rodriguez, Principles of Polymer Systems, McGraw-Hill, 3ª Ed., 1983
M. Campbell, Introduction to Synthetic Polymers, OxfordScience Publications, 3ª Ed., 1997
H. Allcock, F.W. Lampe, J. E. Mark, Comtemporary Polymer Chemistry, Prentice Hall, 3ª.Ed., 2003
J. Brandrup, E.H. Immergut, E.A. Grulke, Polymer Handbook, John Wiley & Sons, 4ª Ed., 2003
Teaching method
Evaluation method
The grade is composed by:
70% of the final grade obtained in the final exam (minimum 9.5) or in two tests (minimum 9.5; it is considered the average value of the two tests). The student can submit himself to the tests and to the exam and the best grade will be the final.
30% of the final grade is obtained by the practical part (70% grade of the seminar + 30% grade of the reports of the laboratory work). It is also required minimum grade 9.5 in the pratical part.