Understanding the principle of experiments and the obtained meanings of the properties by the experiments is essential in material science and engineering. The learning of fundamental skills of chemical and physical measurement operation is required for the correct and safe experiments. In this experiment course, the following topics will be covered: application of finite difference method for numerical analysis of heat transfer, comparative analysis of numerical results with direct temperature measurements and heat transfer visualization using an infrared camera; measure the characteristics of PLLA with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), understand the principles of those measurements, discuss the relationship between the micro-structure and thermal and mechanical (temperature- and frequency-dependence) characteristics; experience the melt-processing of thermoplastic polymers, understand the relationship between process conditions, fiber structures and fiber properties through structure analyses and property measurements of synthetic fibers which were made in various conditions. The safety training programs for experiments will be also learned.
The aims of this course are to make students get the basics for organic and polymeric materials through the learning of experimental operations, principles and comparison between the theoretical and experimental data, in order to improve their skills and understandings from the viewpoints of general education covering the wide area from the basics to the advanced research of science and engineering.
Additionally, the number of students may be restricted due to the limitation of a laboratory space. The learning quarters and orders could be also changed. Students can learn whole themes in Experiments of Organic and Polymeric Materials I, II and III in a different order, by taking all courses of Experiments of Organic and Polymeric Materials at 1st, 3rd and 4th quarters.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. acquire fundamental skills of chemical and physical measurement operations,
2. understand the chemical reactions and analysis,
3. understand the meanings of measured properties and their principles,
4. understand the relation between the conditions of sample preparation and their properties,
5. understand the experimental methods, data analysis and discussion based on obtained data,
and learning the basics for more advanced experiments.
Organic and polymeric materials, material engineering, experiment, analysis method, property measurement, numerical calculation
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Students work in teams throughout this course and conduct a series of experimental themes. The learning quarters and orders could be also changed. Students can learn whole themes in Experiments of Organic and Polymeric Materials I, II and III in a different order, by taking all courses of Experiments of Organic and Polymeric Materials at 1st, 3rd and 4th quarters. Written reports must be submitted by designated dates. Students must read the experiment text before the start of each experiment to ensure safety and smooth running.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Safety training program 5 (fire-safety, fire extinction and others) | |
Class 2 | Direct measurement of thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity. Indirect determination of thermal diffusivity | Comparison of thermal properties using different methods and sensors. Numerical analysis of results using a finite difference method. |
Class 3 | Introduction to the use of infrared sensor for visualization of temperature change. Direct measurement of thermal diffusivity using flash method and infrared sensor | |
Class 4 | Measurements of time-dependent temperature change in polymeric materials and comparison with the results of one-dimension numerical analysis | |
Class 5 | Direct measurement of thermal diffusivity using a temperature modulation technique | |
Class 6 | Thermal characteristics by differential scanning calorimetry of poly-L-lactide (PLLA) | Measurement of the characteristics of PLLA with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Understanding of the principles of those measurements. Discussion of the relationship between the micro-structure and thermal and mechanical (temperature- and frequency-dependence) characteristics. |
Class 7 | Microstructure analysis by wide-angle X-ray diffraction of PLLA | |
Class 8 | Temperature dependence of viscoelasticity of PLLA | |
Class 9 | Frequency dependence of viscoelasticity of PLLA | |
Class 10 | Melt-spinning of synthetic fibers | Experience the melt-processing of thermoplastic polymers. Understand the relationship between process conditions, fiber structures and fiber properties through structure analyses and property measurements of synthetic fibers which were made in various conditions. |
Class 11 | Measurements of physical properties of synthetic fibers | |
Class 12 | Measurements of thermal properties of synthetic fibers | |
Class 13 | Measurements of fiber structure of synthetic fibers | |
Class 14 | Safety training program 6 (general overview and check of understanding) |
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 50 minutes preparing for class and another 50 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
SAFETY HANDBOOK, Tokyo Institute of Technology (in Japanese)
Course texts are provided during class.
Full attendance and completion of all experiments are compulsory. Assessment is based on the quality of the written reports and on the status of submission thereof. Students may fail the course if they repeatedly come late to classes or often delay the submission of reports.
No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment in the related courses is desirable.