Polymer Physics
Code
1491
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Ciências dos Materiais
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
Maria Helena Figueiredo Godinho
Weekly hours
5
Total hours
84
Teaching language
Português
Subject matter
Conformation and structural models of polymer chains. Statistics of the freely jointed chain, end-to-end distance and its statistical distribution, gyration radius. Equation of state of a polymer chain. Real chains in dilute solutions and in the bulk. Dilution: method of chain isolation. Intrinsic viscosity. Effects of the excluded volume. Good and bad solvents. Entanglements. Conformation of chains in solids and isotropic liquids. Thermodynamics of polymer solutions. Flory-Huggins theory. Dilute polymer solutions. Sol-gel transition. Rubber vulcanization. Theory of rubber elasticity.
Bibliography
J.B.Ferreira, "Física dos Polímeros", FCT/UNL, 2004
P.J.Flory, "Principles of Polymer Chemistry", Cornell Univ. Press, 1978
R.J.Young, "Introduction to Polymers", Chapman and Hall, London, 1981
L. R. G. Treloar, "The Physics of Rubber Elasticity", Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1975
Teaching method
The teaching of this unit involves three aspects: a theoretical formation on the to pics of the syllabus, which is the purpose of the theoretical classes, experimental work, in groups, in the Laboratory, and one or two guided visits to industrial factories working in the area of polymers. Emphasis is given to the understanding of the topics in the program of the unit. In the practical classes, the students are asked to discuss and solve the problems proposed, in groups, with the help of the teacher.
Evaluation method
Frequency is given to those with positive results in their Lab. experiments, and showing an acceptable understanding of the objectives and proceedings of the factories they visit. To be approved, a student needs to obtain frequency, and a positive result in a final exam, or, as an alternative, in two tests. The final mark is the weighed average between the frequency mark (25%) and the tests average mark/exam mark (75%).