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.
Final Objectives
Core competence 1
To be able to control general chemical knowledge and skills, to apply elemental chemical reaction mechanisms and to perform chemical syntheses (during the exercises) (SC1 and SC2).
Concerning polymers, the students must, a.o.
- have a thorough knowledge of the miscellaneous syntheses and their circumstances, of the kinetics and the statistics and of the physical chemical methods of analysis;
- be informed of the possibilities of the use of comonomers;
- have a practical knowledge of organic synthesis (exercises).
Core competence 2
To be able to acquire chemical technological knowledge and to have a thorough control over specific practical skills (polymers synthesis during the exercises) (SC5).
The students must have, a.o.,
- a chemical technological knowledge of industrial polymerisation techniques and a knowledge of the performance of physical chemical methods of analysis.
General competence 1
To be able to think and to reason permanently in a critical, creative and scientific way about the matter in question (AC1);
He / she must be able to implement scientific-disciplinary insights on scientific and/or engineering problems, independently (AIC1).
General competence 2
To be able to collect and to handle relevant scientific and technical information effectively (AC2);
To be able to communicate and to report information, ideas – especially scientific and technical ones - to specialists in an efficient way (AC4);
He / she must be able to discuss and to solve problems as a team efficiently (AC5)
To be able to initiate primary research in an problem-controlled way (AWC3)
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 possible 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 a student gains a score of 7 or less on 20 on one of the different courses (parts of training items), one can turn from the arithmetical calculation of the final assignment of quotas of a training item and the new marks can be awarded on consensus.
Lecturer(s)
Vanhee Paul, Diricks Greta
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