POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING II: ANALYSIS, PROCESSING AND LABORATORY, CHEM/CHE/ME/MSE/TFE 4776

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Course coordinators:         Dr. Haskell Beckham (TFE), Dr. John D. Muzzy (ChE)

 

Prerequisite/Corequisite: CHEM/CHE/ME/MSE/TFE 4775

 

Proposed Catalog Description:

Polymer fabrication processes and methods of characterization and identification of polymers are presented. Experiments in polymerization, processing, and property evaluation of polymers.

 

Course Justification:

 

The learning objectives for the course are as follows:

 

1.    Learn essential concepts of physical chemistry, characterization, and processing of polymers

2.    Provide a foundation for industrial practice in polymer science and engineering

3.    Provide a foundation for graduate courses and research in polymer science and engineering

 

There is a tight integration between the materials in the companion course (CHEM/CHE/ME/MSE/TEX 4775), the lecture materials in the proposed course and the laboratory experiments. Further, the laboratory reports (executive report and technical report styles) are also graded for written communication and presentations of results for oral communication skills providing students with field relevant communication skills. The course  materials have been taught highly successfully at Georgia Tech for 18+ years.

 

Text: at the level of  Principles of Polymer Systems, F. Rodriguez

 

Topical Outline

 

1.    Chapters 6: Methods of Molecular Weight Determination

colligative properties, osmometry, light scattering, dilute solution viscometry, size exclusion chromatography

2.    Chapters 15: Methods of Polymer Analysis

thermal analysis, vibrational spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, electrical and dielectric properties

3.    Chapter 12: Polymer Fabrication Processes

Extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, film blowing, and fiber spinning

 

Laboratories:

a. Polymer Synthesis: condensation polymerization
b. Polymer Synthesis: emulsion polymerization
c. Polymer Analysis: steady and dynamic shear flow rheology
d. Polymer Analysis: dilute solution viscometry, size exclusion chromatography
e. Polymer Analysis: infrared spectroscopy
f. Polymer Analysis: differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis
g. Polymer Analysis: x-ray diffraction
h. Polymer Analysis: optical microscopy
i. Polymer Analysis: electrical and dielectric properties
j. Polymer Processing: film extrusion
k. Polymer Processing: injection molding
l. Polymer Processing: fiber extrusion and capillary rheology
m. Polymer Properties: mechanical testing - tensile and impact testing

 

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