Entry requirements

120 credits in science/engineering with 60 credits chemistry including 10 credits in organic chemistry or polymer chemistry. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• identify, and describe the key differences between, various polymerisation and crosslinking methods
• describe how solid-state and solution properties relate to polymer structure
• describe, discuss, and carry out practical laboratory work involving polymer synthesis and crosslinking
• search, summarise, and present information starting from a question related to the content of the course

Content

Methods and mechanisms for polymer synthesis, especially step-growth and chain-growth polymerisation as well as the concept of living polymerisation. Polymer self-organisation and morphology. Macromolecular size, molecular weight and structure. Covalent and non-covalent crosslinking of polymers. Hydrogels including methods of preparation. Characterisation of soft materials using scattering techniques such as DLS, SAXS, and SANS. Experimental planning for polymer synthesis including writing of risk assessment.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, laboratory work, project.

Assessment

Student presentations with hand-in questions (3 credits) and laboratory work with written reports (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.