TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Course description and aims

This course introduces the various ordered structures of polymers, which are typical soft matters, and enables students to understand that entropy is the driving force for the formation of these structures.
The first topic is the properties of single polymer chains, which are essential for understanding the behavior of polymers in solution systems and are directly related to the properties of polymer solids. This topic enables students to understand the factors that determine the radius of gyration, persistence length and excluded volume effect of single polymer chains in dilute solution. It is useful knowledge for measuring the molecular weight and polydispersity of practical polymer samples.
Furthermore, students will understand that the formation mechanism of various ordered structures are universally explainable based on thermodynamic principles, through the practical examples of the dissipative structures appearing during the phase separation process of polymer blends and the crystallization of semi-crystalline polymers.
Students learn that polymer materials, which are easily oriented in the manufacturing process, inevitably exhibit anisotropic physical properties. Thus, students understand that various physical properties are closely correlated with the molecular orientation function based on the principles of solid state physics. For an example, students learn that the birefringence of a polymer sample is proportional to the second-order orientation parameter, and understand that other electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties represented by second-order tensors are also functions of the orientation order parameter. Through this topic, students will understand that orientation control of molecular chains is important for controlling physical properties of polymer samples.

Student learning outcomes

This course is intended for students who use knowledge of polymer science in their research projects, particularly the ordering mechanism of soft matters. The goal of this course is to understand characteristic ordered structures of polymers and the thermodynamic principles of the formation mechanisms of the ordered structures.
Specifically, students will acquire the following contents.

1. Explain the classification of entropy.
2. Explain the characteristics of various models of single polymer chain.
3. Understand the relationship between the excluded volume effect and the dimension of polymer chain, and explain the principle of molecular weight measurement.
4. Understand the nature of mixing entropy calculated from the Flory-Huggins lattice model.
5. Understand that formation of liquid crystalline phase of rod-shaped molecules are explainable by the balance of translational and rotational entropies.
6. Explain the thermodynamics of block copolymers which form the microphase-separated structures.
7. Explain the hierarchical structure of semi-crystalline polymers and the formation mechanism based on thermodynamics.
8. Understand that various physical properties are tensor quantities and explain the anisotropy in the physical properties of polymeric materials.
9. Explain the principle of optical properties of ordered (oriented) polymer materials.

Keywords

Entropy (translation, vibration, rotation, and conformation), solution properties (radius of gyration, intrinsic viscosity, exclusion volume, theta state), Flory-Huggins lattice model, chi-parameter, block copolymer, liquid crystal, hierarchical structures (crystal lattice, lamella, spherulite), melting point, glass transition

Competencies that will be developed

Class flow

Each lecture will focus on explanation of important points on the assumption that the students have sufficient preparation for the lecture scope in. After each lecture, an assignment will be given to confirm the level of understanding.

Course schedule/Required learning

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Students can access the slide materials for this class through T2SCHOLA system.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

G. Strobl, The Physics of Polymers: Concepts for Understanding Their Structures and Behavior, 3rd edition, Springer.

Assessment criteria and methods

Understanding of thermodynamic principles of ordered structures of polymer materials will be assessed.
Simple assignment after each lecture (40%) + final report (70%)

Related courses

• CAP.Y204 ： Polymer Physics I (Polymer Solutions)
• CAP.Y205 ： Polymer Physics II (Solid Structures)
• CAP.Y304 ： Polymer Physical Properties
• CAP.P202 ： Statistical Mechanics for Polymers

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment in the related courses, particularly chemical physics and polymer science, is desirable.