CHEM 4550 - Polymer Chemistry

(3) Credit Hours
Prerequisite: CHEM 2212K, CHEM 4201K
This course introduces an overview of the chemistry of polymers. Polymers form the basis for synthetic plastics to natural biopolymers (such as nucleic acids and proteins) that are essential for life. The physical structures and properties as well as synthetic mechanisms of some commercial polymers will be discussed. Theories of physical properties of polymers in solution and in the solid state will be addressed. Characterization topics may include molecular weight averages, thermal transitions, and mechanical properties. Upon completion of this course, the student will: 1) define and compute molecular weight averages from the molecular weight distributions in synthetic polymers, 2) define the major classes of polymerization mechanisms, and specify reaction conditions to control the average molecular weights, the distribution of molecular weights, and chain architecture for each class, 3) recognize polymeric microstructures based on theory and understand experimental methods that characterize polymers, 4) use organic chemistry to describe synthetic mechanisms of select commercial polymers in their manufacturing process, 5) use the principles of thermodynamics to describe and calculate the physical properties of polymers and polymer solutions, 6) describe the factors affecting the stability of polymers, the mechanisms of degradation, strategies for stabilization and the advantages and disadvantages of bio-degradable formulations, and 7) apply computational methods to answer questions of interest about polymer dynamics, polymerization kinetics and polymer thermodynamic properties.