Polymer Processing
Monday 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Rowan Hall 340
332 Rowan Hall
256-5316
Text: Fundamentals of Polymers
Anil Kumar and Rakesh Gupta
McGraw Hill, Inc. 1997
The textbook is required and will be supplemented with additional handouts.
Office Hours: TRF 2:30 - 4:00
These are times when students can be certain that I will be in my office.
However, students are welcome (and encouraged) to come or call at other times. If I am in my office and not on the phone or with another student, I will make time for you. At minimum, we will arrange a time to meet that will accommodate both of our schedules.
Objectives: 1. Introduce the fundamentals of the chemistry and chemical engineering aspects of polymeric materials.
2. Develop the capacity to make informed, scientific decisions involving materials selection and processing
Responsibilities: To succeed in this class, you should read the relevant material before
coming to class, make a reasonable effort to do the assigned homework, hand in what you accomplish, and ask questions on points that you do not understand. You should expect that this graduate level course will be challenging. I will lecture on points in the book and on supplemental topics, attempt to answer all serious questions, make myself available to anyone needing extra help, administer fair but demanding exams, and grade and return assignments in a reasonable time. All exams will be graded by the next class period.
Grading: 2 1-hour exams 50%
Final Exam or paper 50%
Policies: 1. Regular attendance is expected. You are responsible for all assignments and material covered in class whether you are there or not.
2. Each student taking the course for undergraduate credit may choose between taking the final examination or writing a final paper (minimum of 10 pages, discussing in detail a commercial polymer including its synthesis, production, properties, uses, thermodynamics, glass transition temperature, etc.). Any student who chooses to do so may take the final exam AND write the paper. In this case, the student will receive the higher of the two grades. Students taking the class for graduate credit must take the final exam AND write the paper (each worth 20% of the final grade).
3. Collaboration on homework assignments is encouraged; however, ALL EXAMS AND THE FINAL PAPER MUST BE DONE INDEPENDENTLY. Academic misconduct will result in a failing grade for the class.
4. Make-up exams will not be given without documentation of illness or emergency unless arrangements are made in advance. If necessary, a single comprehensive make-up exam will be given.
5. Class begins promptly at 5:30 PM. and will end by 8:00. Should the class run later than 8:05 twice during the semester (except for answering questions), I will bring pizza for the entire class during the next lecture.
6. If you feel that your exam has been graded improperly, resubmit the exam with a detailed WRITTEN explanation of what you perceive the error to be. I will REGRADE the problem in question (Note – Your score can move up or down). All test grade appeals must be received by the next class meeting after going over the test. The only exception to this policy will occur if I miss-add your total score.
Tentative Schedule and Topics
9/9 Introduction and syllabus review
Review of Polymeric Principles from Engineering Materials I
Sections (1.1 - 1.4, 1.6-1.8)
9/16 Recycleable Polymers
Crystal Shape and Structure
Effect of Structure on Properties
Plasticizers
Sections (2.1-2.3,2.6,2.7,2.9)
9/23 Mechanical Properties of Polymers
Sections (12.1-12.6,12.8,12.9)
9/30 Thermodynamics of Polymer Mixtures
Sections (9.1 - 9.7)
10/7 Crystallization and review for Exam
Sections (11.1-11.4, 11.6-11.9)
10/14 Exam #1 - Chapters 1,2,9,11, and 12
10/21 Exam Summary
Begin Flow Behavior of Polymers (Rheology)
Sections (14.1-14.5)
10/28 Finish Flow Behavior
Diffusion in Polymers
Sections (14.7,14.8,13.1-13.4,13.6,13.9)
11/4 Polymer Processing and Review
Sections (15.1-15.5)
11/11 *** Veterans Day – No Classes ***
11/18 Kinetics/Reaction Engineering of Polymers
Sections (5.1 - 5.7, 6.1 - 6.2)
11/25 Exam #2 - Chapters 5,6,13,14,15
12/2 Exam Summary, Start High Performance and Specialty Polymers
12/9 High Performance and Specialty Polymers, Review for Final Exam
12/16 Final Exam and/or submission of Final Papers