CHM 632: Physical Chemistry of Polymers (4)
Prerequisites: CHM 222, CHM 321, CHM 324 and CHM 421 or their equivalent are desirable
Introduction: Basic concepts, types of polymers, molecular weights, determination of molecular weights.
Polymerization kinetics: Stepwise & chain growth kinetics, Carothers equation, kinetic chain length, copolymerization and emulsion polymerization.
Structure of Polymer Chain: Chain isomerism, stereoregularity, configurations, and conformations, NMR characterizations, radius of gyration.
Polymer solutions and blends: Thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics, lattice model, Flory-Huggins theory, osmotic pressure, phase separation, properties of dilute polymer solutions: intrinsic viscosity.
Polymer viscoelasticity and glass transition (Tg): Stress-strain behavior, Stress relaxation, Maxwell-Voigt mechanical models, glass and melting transition, thermodynamic aspects of Tg, determination of Tg (calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis), factors affecting Tg.
Networks, gels and rubber elasticity: Gel point, rubbery elastic states of polymers, thermodynamics of polymer elasticity-equation of state, ideal elastomers.
Crystalline state of polymers: Polymer Crystallization, thermodynamics and kinetics of crystallizations, semi-crystalline structures, experimental methods.
Applications and emerging technologies: Conducting and semi-conducting polymers in organic electronics, liquid crystalline polymers, self-assembly, Merrifield resins, polymer nanocomposites, plasticizers, antioxidant, adhesives.
Suggested Readings :
- Polymer Chemistry,P. C. Hiemenz and T.P. Lodge, 2nd Edition, CRC Press, 2007.
- Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, L.H. Sperling, Wiley-Interscience, 2006.
- Principles of Polymer Chemistry, P.J. Flory, Cornell University Press, 1953.
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