Polymer materials show excellent physical properties. In this course, we introduce various physical properties of polymer solutions and polymer blends. That is, this course covers the conformation of one polymer chain, dilute polymer solution, concentrated polymer solution, and polymer blend on the basis of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. For intuitively understanding the characteristics of polymer materials, some demonstrations will be included in the course.
"Polymer solution" provides the fundamental concept of polymer substances, so that this course is an introduction for advanced courses of polymer science, and hence has an important academic significance. Furthermore, this course gives basic information on polymer substances for the technologies related to polymer industry.
At the end of this course, students will get the knowledge about the physical properties of polymer solution. That is, they will be able to explain and/or understand
1) the conformation and dynamic behavior of an isolated polymer chain
2) the conformation of polymer chains in dilute solution
3) statics and dynamics of concentrated polymer solution
4) structure, morphology, and physical properties of polymer blend
Conformation, Dilute Solution, Concentrated Solution, Polymer Blend, Morphology Formation
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
The detailed contents of this course will be shown using blackboards or powerpoint slides on a projector. Students are sometimes given exercise problems related to the lecture.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | The origin of polymer properties and molecular structure of polymers. | Understand the origin of "polymer properties" on the basis of their molecular structures. |
Class 2 | Conformation and behavior of isolated polymer chains | Understand the conformation and dynamic behavior of one polymer chain on the basis of it's molecular weight. |
Class 3 | Structure and properties of dilute and semi-dilute polymer solution. | Define dilute and semi-dilute solution, and understand the structure and properties of polymer chains in these solutions. |
Class 4 | Concentrated polymer solution. 1. Description by mean-field theories. | Describe the concentrated polymer solution using Flory-Huggins mean-field theory. |
Class 5 | Concentrated polymer solution. 2. Phase diagram and miscibility. | Understand the phase diagram of polymer solution on the basis of the miscibility between constituent polymers and solvents. |
Class 6 | Polymer blends | Describe the definition and generality of "polymer blends". |
Class 7 | Morphology formation in polymer solutions and polymer blends. 1. Equilibrium treatment. | Understand the structure and morphology formed in polymer solutions and polymer blends. |
Class 8 | Morphology formation in polymer solutions and polymer blends. 2. Non-equilibrium treatment. | Understand the process of morphology formation occurring in polymer solutions and polymer blends. |
None
References: 1. The Society of Polymer Science Ed., " Fundamental Polymer Science", Tokyo Kagaku Dojin, 2006
2. Hiromi Kitano et. al., "Polymer Chemistry", Sankyo Pub., 2008.
Students' course scores are evaluated on the basis of excise reports and exams, as described in RISHU ANNAI.
Students should have successfully completed the following courses or have equivalent knowledge; Polymer Science (CAP.P201), Introduction to Polymer Chemistry (GRC.B104)