Entry requirements

60 credits in materials science and/or materials chemistry, or 60 credits in mechanical engineering together with 10 credits in materials science and/or materials chemistry.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course the student shall be able to:

• describe the general structure of polymers,
• account for how polymer properties are affected by the molecular weight,
• identify, and describe the difference between, different polymerization and crosslinking methods,
• describe how the properties of polymeric materials depends on their structure and morphology,
• give examples of the industrial applications of polymers,
• discuss and motivate the choice of material and processing for the manufacture of polymer products,
• conduct practical laboratory work within polymer synthesis and characterization in a well-planned, responsible and safe manner.

Content

The course gives and introduction to polymers and polymeric materials, and focusses on general polymer chemistry, the thermal and mechanical properties of polymers, common polymeric materials and additive manufacturing of polymer products. Methods for polymerization and crosslinking; step-growth polymerization, chain-growth polymerization, living polymerization. Analysis of polymeric materials with thermal, spectroscopic and mechanical methods. Amorphous and semi-crystalline materials. Elastomers and rubber elasticity. The connection between structure and properties. Processing of polymer materials. Degradation and stabilization of polymers. Environmental aspects of polymer materials. Laboratory exercises regarding polymerization, crosslinking and the relationship between mechanical properties and morphology in the solid state.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, laboratory work, and projects.

Assessment

Written examination (3 credits). Laboratory work and project including presentation (2 credits).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.