Polymer Physics

11B0349

Bachelor

German

5.0

only summer term

1 semester

The processing and usage properties of plastics are largely determined by the physical behaviour of the polymers. The main aim of this course is to understand the basic principles of polymer physics and the relationships between structure and properties and to be able to transfer these to practical applications.

1. Basic terms to describe the structure of chain molecules

Definition: polymers and macromolecules, polymer microstructure, irregular polymers (tacticity, stereoisomers), polymer architectures, polydispersity, characteristic mean values, differences ‘polymers - low-molecular substances’, history

2. Ideal and real chains

Micro- and macroconformation of an ideal polymer chain, description of the polymer ball: thread-end-to-end distance and gyration radius, simple chain models, Gaussian ball, entropy elasticity, classification of solvents, Flory exponent

3. Polymer solutions and polymer blends

Flory-Huggins theory, Flory-Huggins parameters, solubility parameters, phase diagrams, osmotic pressure, polymer blends

4 Viscoelasticity

Fundamentals of rheology, relaxation and creep experiment, dynamic-mechanical experiment, five regions of viscoelastic behaviour, viscosity, Maxwell model, Kelvin-Voigt model, Boltzmann superposition, time-temperature superposition, rubber elasticity

5. Polymers in the glass state and glass transition

amorphous state, theories of the glass transition, factors influencing the glass transition

6. Polymer melting

Melting process, melting range, dynamics in polymer melts

7. Semi-crystalline polymers

Crystallographic basics, X-ray structure analysis, morphology, degree of crystallisation, crystallisation kinetics

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Written examination

 Exam: see the currently valid study regulations

The module requires knowledge of plastics and materials technology as well as basic knowledge of chemistry and physics, as taught in the introductory modules.

Students who have successfully completed this module have a broad knowledge of the structure-property relationships of polymers, in particular with regard to the physical properties and their influence on the processing, application and recyclability of these materials. They are able to recognise and describe the relationships between the performance properties and the structure as well as the resulting physical properties.

Students will be able to discuss and explain polymer physics principles in connection with the processing and application of plastics.

Students are able to analyse and discuss mechanical, thermal and morphological property profiles of plastics on the basis of polymer physics principles. They are able to derive structure-property relationships.

Students will be able to apply polymer physics principles and interrelationships to issues of material selection, material development and processing.

• Susoff, Markus Lothar

• Susoff, Markus Lothar