Module Descriptors
POLYMER SCIENCE
MECH50365
Key Facts
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Sciences
Level 5
15 credits
Contact
Leader:
Email:
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 36
Independent Study Hours: 114
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
  • COURSEWORK weighted at 50%
  • EXAMINATION - UNSEEN IN EXAMINATION CONDITIONS weighted at 50%
Module Details
Module Special Admissions Requirements
CE00189-1 Plastics Materials / CE00190-1 Rubber Materials or equivalent
Module Resources
Model kits to show the structure of polymer back bones
Viscometers, laboratory apparatus suitable for refluxing organic monomers
Module Learning Strategies
Lectures 24 hours
Tutorials and practicals 12 hours
Module Indicative Content
- Glass transition temperature: structural features related to the glass transition temperature; main chain, side branching, polarity.
- Crystallinity: single crystals, spherulites, strain induced crystallisation
- Structural features that affect crystallinity: regularity, tacticity, polarity, branching
- Molecular mass averages, calculations, molecular mass distribution
- Polymerisation techniques: bulk, suspension, emulsion and solution
- Polymerisation mechanisms: addition radical, step polymerisation, rates of reactions
Module Additional Assessment Details
A coursework weighted at 50% which will assess learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
An exam (length 2 hours) weighted at 50% which will assess learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Module Texts
J Cowie, Polymers : Chemistry and physics of Modern Materials, 2nd Ed 1991 Blackie ISBN 075140134
Odian, Principles of Polymerisation, 1991, John Wiley, ISBN 0471610208
F Billymeyer, Textbook of Polymer Science, 3rd Edition, John Wiley, 0471031968