PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF POLYMER SOLUTIONS
CHEM/CHE/MSE/TFE 6751
Course coordinators:
Dr.
S. Michielsen (TFE), Dr. S. Kumar (TFE), Dr. A. S. Abhiraman (ChE)
Prerequisites: 1
semester physical chemistry and CHEM/CHE/ME/MSE/TFE 4775, 4777 or equivalent or
consent of instructor
Proposed Catalog Description:
Study of polymer solutions, polymer miscibility,
adsorptions, sorptions, plasticization, molecular weights, molecular weight
distributions, and interfacial phenomena using thermodynamics and statistical
mechanics.
Course Justification:
The learning objectives for the course are as follows:
1. Learn
essential concepts of the physical chemistry vis-a-vis properties of polymer
solutions.
2. Provide
a foundation for accessing advanced literature in polymer solution theory.
3. Provide
a foundation for advanced graduate research in polymer solutions and phase
behavior.
Students shall learn an integrated approach to polymer
solutions from dilute to concentrated, from small molecule solvents to
polymeric ones as well as characterization methods that rely on polymer
solutions. The course materials have been annually taught highly successfully
at Georgia Tech for more than 7 years. Extensive printed classroom notes have
been prepared so that the student can concentrate on the concepts rather than
the mathematics. Industry was polled in developing this course to determine the
most important concepts required by industry today.
Text: at the level
of Macromolecules in Solution by H. Morawetz
Topical Outline
1. Review emphasizing solutions: Thermodynamics, Statistical
thermodynamics
Review zeroth third laws of thermodynamics. Phase equilibria. Introduction to
quantum mechanics. Statistical thermodynamics
2. Conformations and spatial configurations of polymer
chains
Configuration statistics of chain molecules. Scaling
Concepts in Polymer Solutions (including static & dynamic flexibility).
Rotational Isomeric State theory
3. Dilute polymer solutions: viscosity, light scattering,
colligative properties.
Ideal solutions, lattice model, Flory-Huggins, phase
behavior, osmotic pressure, Light Scattering Classical & Dynamic, Neutron
& X-ray scattering, Frictional Properties Diffusion of polymers in
solution, Viscosity
4. Concentrated solutions, plasticization, miscibility
Excluded volume, rigid rod polymers, plasticizers,
polymer-polymer phase behavior, Frictional Properties Reptation
5. Polymers at Interfaces
Loops, trains, and tails. Mushrooms, pancakes and brushes.
6. Analytical applications of polymer solutions
GPC with multidetectors, analyzing block copolymers,
analyzing polymer blends
7. Industrial applications of polymer solutions
Wet, dry and flash spinning of fibers, polymer coatings.
8. Student papers