A. Polymer Basics (4-5 lectures)
- History of polymers chemistry (natural vs. synthetic)
- Staudinger’s macromolecular hypothesis
- Classification of macromolecules (common terms: e.g. linear, branched, block, graft, dendrimer, etc.)
- Passive vs. active polymers
- Naming Rules (systematic and common names)
B. Characterizing Polymers (5-10 lectures)
- Molecular Weights and Distributions
- Measuring molecular weight (GPC, light scattering)
- The viscoelastic state
- Tg and Tm - thermodynamics of first and second order transitions derived from Gibbs free energy
- Structural factors affecting Tg and Tm
- Measuring Tg and Tm (DSC)
C. Polymer synthesis (15 lectures)
- Addition Polymerization
- radical (thermodynamics and Kinetics, Regiochemistry, Ceiling Temperature)
- Cationic, Living Anionic Polymerization
- Ring-Opening Polymerization (ring strain)
- Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization
- Step Polymerization (Kinetics, ie Carothers equation, Industrial Methods e.g.: PET, Polycarbonate, nylon-6,6, urethane foam, silicone, etc)
D. Advanced topics (8 lectures)
- Controlled radical polymerization: ATRP, NMP, RAFT)
- Inorganic Polymers (silicones, phosphazenes)
- ROP of lactones by In catalysts (PM)
- Bioplastics
- Biomaterials