AUBURN UNIVERSITY

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Number:PFEN 5510/6510

Course Title:Polymer Chemistry

Credit Hours:3, T, R, 9:30-10:45 am, room 119

Prerequisites: CHEM 2030 or departmental approval

Instructor:Dr. Xinyu Zhang, Assistant Professor

Office Hours:Tuesday 2-3 pm

Recommended References:

Malcolm P. Stevens, Polymer Chemistry: An Introduction3rd Edition, Oxford 1999.

George Odian, Principles of Polymerization, 4th Edition, Wiley, 2004.

Course Description:

This course builds on the fundamental aspects of polymers, their special properties and applications. The concept of cradle-to-cradle engineering and design will be introduced and explored where possible. The students will actively participate in class, giving short presentations and summaries on literature topics for their peers and improving on their polymeric communication skills.

Course Objectives:

  • Develop fundamental understanding for polymers and polymeric reactions
  • Realize common concepts within polymer classes
  • Recognize the potential value of polymeric materials and their areas of application
  • Become familiar with current topics in polymer science
  • Recognize sustainability issues in polymer chemistry

Course Outline:

Introduction: Petroleum as the raw material for all petro-plastics; its future impact on the polymer manufacturing industryin light of increased scarcity and cost; new sustainable resources from biomass products; cradle-to-cradle design principles

Section I:a) PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate), one of the most important polymers in daily life

  • Polycondensation, catalysts, cyclo-oligomers
  • Ring-opening polymerization
  • Living polycondensation
  • Comparison of properties of the resulting PET, applications
  • Impacts on human health and ecosystems

b) PS (polystyrene), the material of food containers and polymeric foams

  • Cationic and anionic polymerization, living/controlled polymerization options
  • Ionic liquids as a medium for controlled polymerizations
  • Emulsion polymerization
  • Microemulsion polymerization
  • Foam products
  • Impacts on human health and ecosystems

c) PE (polyethylene), molecular arrangement makes all the difference, HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE

  • Free radical polymerization, living radical polymerization
  • Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)
  • Nitroxide mediated radical polymerization (NMP)
  • Reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization (RAFT)
  • Impacts on human health and ecosystems

d) PVC (polyvinyl chloride), how plasticizers change appearance, how other additives impact properties and serviceable lifespan of polymers; toxicity issues

  • Impacts on human health and ecosystems

e) Polyacrylates

  • Some on stereochemistry; head-to-tail and head-to-head vinyl-polymerizations
  • Superabsorbing polymers (SAPs)
  • Impacts on human health and ecosystems

f) PU (polyurethanes) and elastomers, taking a stretch

  • Block-copolymerization, segmented PU
  • Crosslinking, networking
  • Interpenetrating networks (IPN)
  • Impacts on human health and ecosystems

g) Synthesis of environmentally-benign polymers

Section II: a) Functionalization of polymers, leaving your options open

  • Dentrimers, stars, polymer brushes
  • Template polymerization
  • Membranes

b) Conducting polymers

c) Polymeric colorants and colorants for polymers, you cannot sell a product without optional color! Toxicity, options

d) Polymers with unusual backbones, Si, C60, nanotubes

Section III:Sustainability issues in polymer chemistry

  • Integrating sustainability into your research; cradle-to-cradle design revisited
  • Recyclingand downcycling processesfor polymer materials
  • Reducing impacts to the environment in daily life practice (see evidence of recycling plastics on a weekly/monthly base, for 5 points bonus)

Grading:

The grade for this course is based on the average of assignment/quiz (30%), exams (two mid-terms and one final, 50%), a proposal on course related topic and a presentation (15%), participation in the class and seminars (5%).

Letter GradePoints

A90-100

B80-89

C70-79

D60-69

F59 or less

Class participation and seminars: students will be asked to prepare short seminars on course related topics, solve problems and puzzles in groups during class time, find relevant information from polymer databases via the internet or the library.

Proposal: students will write aproposal on a course-related topic with which they might apply for support of travel to a conference or a small scholarship

Presentation: a PowerPoint presentation of approximately 15-20 min will be expected together with hand-outs for the other classmates. Presentations will be scheduled throughout the semester (times and topics by lottery).

Attendance is notrequired. The student is responsible for getting missed information.Attendance is mandatory for all exams. Each unexcused absence for an exam will result in zero (0) point for the unattended exams without makeup exams.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: all the student work (assignments, papers, presentations etc.) is expected to be original. The highest standards of academic integrity are expected. You are free to consult with one another to solve the homework problems, but the solutions are expected to be your individual efforts. Consult the Tiger Cub. Directly copying printed literature or web-based material is not acceptable and will lead to zero credit.

Students with special needs

Students requiring special accommodations should contact the Director of the Program for Students with Disabilities, 1232 Haley Center, Voice (334) 844-2096.

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