MATSE 457/CHEM 457: Polymer Chemistry

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Textbook: Stevens, Malcolm P. Polymer Chemistry, Oxford: New York 1999.

References:

Odian, G. Principles of Polymerization, Third ed.; Wiley: New York, 1991.
Flory, P. J. Principles of Polymer Chemistry, University Press: Ithaca, 1953.
Painter, P. C.; Coleman, M.M. Fundamentals of Polymer Science, Technomic: Lancaster, PA, 1994.
Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Second ed.; 1985-1990. Editors: Mark, H. F., Bikales, N. M.; Overberger, C. G. and Menges, G.

Catalog Description, Prerequisites and Schedule:

Comprehensive overview and examination of the methods used to synthesize macromolecules. Both descriptive and mechanistic organic chemistry, as it relates to polymer synthesis, will be discussed.Prerequisite Senior standing in MATSE or CHEM. 3 hours or 3/4 or 1 unit, 3 lecture-discussion hours/week

Course Topics:

1. INTRODUCTION
a. Historical notes
b. Survey of polymerization types and macromolecular architectures
c. Chemical and physical differences between small molecules and macromolecules
d. Biopolymers vs. synthetic polymers
e. Polymers as materials: Case Study, Kevlar®, Spectra™ and Spider Silk

2. CHARACTERIZATION OF MACROMOLECULES
a. Molecular mass and molecular mass distribution
b. Molecular size and shape characterization
c. Polymer composition, constitution and stereochemistry
d. End group determination

3. ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF SYNTHETIC HIGH POLYMERS
a. Step-growth polymerizations
b. Dendritic molecules and hyperbranched polymers
c. Polymers through genetic engineering
d. Radical addition polymerization
e. Controlled radical polymerization
f. Living addition polymerizations
g. Ring-opening polymerizations
h. Transition-metal-catalyzed polymerizations
i. Copolymerization
j. Macromolecular stereochemistry

4. SUPRAMOLECULAR POLYMER CHEMISTRY)
a. Overview of supramolecular interactions
b. Types of order in molecular materials
c. Molecular architecture and supramolecular chemistry

Course Objectives:

1. To review those aspects of polymer characterization relevant to developing an understanding of the results of polymer synthesis.
2. To have the students develop an understanding of the relationship between the various common polymerization mechanisms and resulting products.
3. To have the students understand the relationship between configuration, as detemined by the synthesis process, and supermolecular structure.

Course Outcomes:

1. Ability to describe representative reactions for each of the polymerization mechanisms.
2. Ability to suggest (design) one or more polymerization reactions, including monomers, for desired product.
3. Ability to describe how the properties of a polymer (e.g., molecular weight, crystallinity, transparency, etc) can be varied by control of the polymerization

Assessment Tools:

3 written exams

Contribution of Course to Meeting the Professional Component

100%

Prepared by:

Jeffrey Moore and Phillip Geil, April 2001