CHEM 770/7700-02 - Polymer Materials
Semester: Winter 2026
Professor: Yangju Lin | Discipline: Polymer |Description
- Basic definitions: Monomers, polymers, polymerization reactions. Polyme structure, nomenclature. Molecular weight distributions and average molecular weights.
- Chain conformations: End-to-end distance, radius of gyration, molecular dimensions, excluded volume.
- Molecular weight measurements: Colligative properties, osmometry, light scattering, viscosity, gel permeation chromatography.
- Step-growth polymerization. Types of reactions. Reactivity, kinetics. Molecular weight distribution and control, branching and cross-linking. Polymerization equilibria. Preparation of polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides.
- Radical chain polymerization. Types of polymerization reactions (bulk, solution, heterogeneous). Polymerization kinetics and energetics, molecular weight distribution. “Living” radical polymerization reactions. Preparation of polystyrene and vinyl polymers.
- “Living”/controlled radical polymerization reactions. Preparation of polystyrene and vinyl polymers.
- Mechanical properties. Modulus and glass transition temperature, structure-property correlations. Viscoelasticity, stress relaxation, dynamic mechanical properties, mechanical models.
Prerequisite: ChEM 254, or equivalent.
Antirequisite: CHEM 370 or NE 333.
Materials
Principles of Polymerization (3rd Edition) by G. Odian (Wiley: NY, 1991; QD281.P603 1991), Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials (2nd Edition) by J. M. G. Cowie (Blackie Academic: Glasgow, 1991; QD381.C68x 1991), Elements of Polymer Science and Engineering by A. Rudin (Academic Press: San Diego, 1999; QD381.R8 1999).
Evaluation
One in-class mid-term exam (40 % or 0 %) on Tuesday February 26th, 2026, and a 2.5-hour final exam (60 % or 100 %)
Lab/Project
TBA
Schedule
- Tue: 8:30 am - 9:50 am in MC 4061
- Thu: 8:30 am - 9:50 am in MC 4061
