MATSE 455: Polymer Physics I, Structure and Properties
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Textbook: Class notes.
Catalog Description, Prerequisites and Schedule:
Techniques and applications of polymer crystal structure and morphology observation; x-ray, electron, light and neutron scattering and diffraction; light and electron microscopy. Morphology-processing-property relationships of crystalline polymers, blends and copolymers; liquid, plastic and condis crystals; deformation mechanisms and orientation characterization; relaxations and transitions; crystallization theory. Prerequisite: Materials Science and Engineering 450 or consent of instructor. 3 hours, 3 lecture-discussion hours/week
Course Topics:
1. Techniques of structure observation
a. microscopy: OM, SEM, TEM and SPM; resolution, sample preparation;
dark field; interpretation
b. diffraction: electron, x-ray and neutron, sphere of reflection,
effects of helical conformation, defects and crystal size on diffraction
pattern, simulation of unit cell, crystallinity and orientation
characterization, SAXD,
2. Polymer morphology and relationship to properties: solution
crystallization of single crystals; melt crystallization of single
crystals, hedrites and spherulites; effect of annealing; kinetic
theory of crystallization; "morphology" of amorphous
polymers; crystallization from the glassy and oriented states.
3. Deformation of crystalline polymers; mechanisms, morphological
aspects and models; effect of annealing; effect on properties;
4. Relaxations and transitions; methods of measurement and relationship
to molecular structure, morphology and properties
5. Polymer blends and co-polymers: effect of processing and composition
on morphology and properties
Course Objectives:
1. To demonstrate the correlation between, and advantages and
disadvantages of, microscopy and diffraction methods of polymer
structure characterization.
2. To describe and demonstrate methods of sample preparation for
TEM, including interpretation of micrographs thereof.
3. To derive, from a physical basis, scattering equations for,
in order, atoms, particles, molecules (helical in particular)
and unit cells.
4. To teach students the relationship of observed X-ray and ED
patterns to reciprocal space and the sphere of reflection, including
effects of crystal size, type I and II paracrystalline defects.
5. To provide students with a detailed, current understanding
of the morphology of crystalline polymers, as crystallized from
solution, melt, glass and oriented melt and of the effect of annealing.
6. To provide students with an appreciation of the historical
development and controversies in the field of polymer morphology.
7. To teach students knowledge of the techniques, and limitations
thereof, for characterization of degree of crystallinity and orientation.
8. To extend student's knowledge of methods of measurement and
interpretation, in terms of molecular motions, degree of crystallinity
and morphology, of polymer relaxations and transitions.
9. To teach students the effect of composition and processing
history on morphology and properties of block copolymers and blends.
Course Outcomes:
1. Given a polymer sample be able to suggest methods (and potential
limitations) of sample preparation for morphology observation
by TEM.
2. Given an oriented polymer sample be able to suggest appropriate
techniques for characterization of the orientation of the crystalline
and amorphous segments therein.
3. Given a polymer fiber x-ray diffraction pattern be able to
determine the physical and chemical repeat distances and the unit
cell parameters.
4. Given polymer x-ray diffraction scans be able to calculate
relative degrees of crystallinity, crystal size and defect content.
5. Be able to describe the effect of crystallization conditions,
including degree of supercooling, orientation, and pressure, on
the crystallinity, morphology and physical properties (modulus
and small molecule diffusion) for representative crystallizable
polymers.
6. Given the DMA or dielectric spectroscopy curve for a polymer
be able to suggest an interpretation in terms of transition and
relaxation processes.
7. Given the composition of a block copolymer and method of sample
preparation be able to predict its morphology.
Assessment Tools:
1. Homework problems involving application of the diffraction
topics
2. A written, open book exam on the first part of the course (Topic
1) designed to test the student's ability to apply his/her knowledge.
3. An oral exam on Topics 2-5 based on a more extensive set of
outcomes that are distributed to the students.
Contribution of Course to Meeting the Professional Component
100%
Prepared by:
Phillip Geil, May 2006