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M.Sc. in MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
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MEMY-452
Polymer Synthesis

Course Type
Elective
Semester
Second
ECTS Credits
7

Syllabus

Polymer Synthesis

Basic Concepts and Nomenclature
Basic concepts – polymer nomenclature. Classification of polymers. Polymer microstructure: monomer architecture, orientation, tacticity, isomers. Average molecular weights – properties. Size and shape of macromolecules. Types of polymerization reactions.
Condensation (step-growth) polymerization
Type of step reactions. Molecular weight and polydispersity. Kinetics of condensation polymerization. Examples. Industrial methods of condensation polymerization.
Addition (chain-growth) polymerization – Free-radical
Free-radical polymerization. Mechanism of free-radical polymerization. Molecular weight and polydispersity. Kinetics of free-radical polymerization. Examples. Industrial methods of free-radical polymerization. Copolymerization. Copolymerization kinetics.
Anionic Polymerization
Mechanism of anionic polymerization. Molecular weight and polydispersity. Kinetics of anionic polymerization. Macromolecular architectures accessible via anionic polymerization.
Group Transfer Polymerization
Group transfer polymerization.
Cationic Polymerization
Mechanism of cationic polymerization. Molecular weight and polydispersity. Kinetics of cationic polymerization.
Polymer modification and characterization
Polymer modification reactions. Polymer characterization: determination of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, determination of polymer composition, determination of polymer tacticity.

Learning Outcomes

In this course the basic polymerization methods used in polymer synthesis are described. The mechanisms of the polymerisation methods and the kinetics of the reactions are discussed in detail. The effect of the reaction kinetics on the reaction rate and the polymer characteristics are also discussed. Finally, the basic macromolecular characterization techniques are presented. The students choose contemporary research topics in polymer synthesis for presentation. The learning objectives of the course are the following:

Suggested Bibliography

  1. Allcock, H.R.; Lampe, F.W., Contemporary Polymer Chemistry, 2nd ed., Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 1990.
  2. Hiemenz, P.C., Polymer Chemistry: The Basic Concepts, Marcel Dekker, NY, 1984.
  3. Young, R.J.; Lovell, P.A., Introduction to Polymers, 2nd ed., Chapman & Hall, 1996.
  4. Stevens, M.P., Polymer Chemistry: An Introduction, 2nd ed., Oxford Univ. Press, 1990.
  5. Brandrup, J. and Immergut, E.H., eds., Polymer Handbook, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989.
  6. Odian, G., Principles of Polymerization, 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1991.
  7. Rempp, P.; Merill, E.W., Polymer Synthesis, 2nd ed., Huthig & Wepf, Basel, 1991.
  8. Cowie, L.M.G., Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials, 2nd ed., Chapman & Hall, Padstow, Cornwall, UK, 1998.
  9. Flory, P.J., Principles of Polymer Chemistry, Ithaca, HY, Cornell University Press, 1953.

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