An Introduction to the Chemistry of Polymers and Polymerization Processes
Objectives: To introduce the student to the chemistry of high molecular weight polymers, both natural and synthetic, the methods used for their characterization, and the kinetics and mechanisms of the techniques used to achieve polymerization. The emphasis will be on basic principles.
Texts: There is no recommended text and none will be esential to complete the course. However, it is recommended that you consult a variety of sources to complement the lectures.
In the past, the recommended text was "Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials", by Dr. J.M.G. Cowie, Intext Educational Publishers, N.Y.
Other useful texts are:
"The Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering", A. Rudin.
"Contemporary Polymer Chemistry" by Allcock and Lampe.
"Textbook of Polymer Science", by F.W. Billmeyer, Wiley-Interscience, N.Y.
"Polymer Chemistry - An Introduction" by M.P. Stevens.
"Introduction to Polymer Structure" by D. Margerison and G.C. East.
"Principles of Polymer Chemistry", by P.J. Flory.
"Introduction to Synthetic Polymers", by I.M. Campbell
Detailed Course Outline:
A. General Introduction (3 weeks)
(i) Historical, scope & emphasis.
(ii) Nomenclature, terms and definitions.
(iii) Overview of polymer types, structures, properties and methods of formation.
Note: The purpose of this first section is to obtain a very general understanding of the subject material and to learn all of the "jargon". In the subsequent sections of the course we will examine various aspects of the topic in greater depth.
B. Polymer Molecular Weights
(i)Definitions and terms.
(ii)Measurement of polymer molecular weights.
C. Step-growth Polymerization
(i)Introduction.
(ii)Mechanism and kinetic analysis.
D. Free Radical Polymerization
(i)Introduction.
(ii)Mechanism and kinetic analysis.(iii)Co-polymerization - mechanism and kinetic analysis.
E. Other Polymerization Mechanisms
(i)Introduction.
(ii)Cationic, Anionic, Ziegler-type.
(iii)Polymerization methods. — practical aspects.
F. Polymer Structures and Stereochemistry
(i)Introduction - terms
(ii)Characterization of polymer structure and stereochemistry by physical methods, most importantly NMR spectroscopy.