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Courses » Introduction to Polymer Physics

Introduction to Polymer Physics

ABOUT THE COURSE:

Polymer physics is important to understand the structure-property relation in polymers. An understanding of the structural features and interactions responsible for polymer properties can aid in tuning the desirable properties. This introductory course will discuss the models for ideal polymer chains, and thermodynamics of polymer solutions and blends, focusing on miscibility. The course will also cover the different methods to measure polymer molar mass, which has a strong effect on polymer properties. The physics of branching and network formation will be introduced with reference to branched polymers, dendrimers and cross-linked polymers. The course will also discuss mechanical properties of polymers with focus on viscoelasticity and rubber elasticity. Finally, a brief introduction to polymer dynamics will be provided.

Important For Certification/Credit Transfer:

Weekly Assignments and Discussion Forum can be accessed ONLY by enrolling here

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Note: Content is Free!

All content including discussion forum and assignments, is free


Final Exam (in-person, invigilated, currently conducted in India) is mandatory for Certification and has INR Rs. 1100 as exam fee



INTENDED AUDIENCE:
Undergraduate (preferably final year) and post graduate students; professional practitioners working in the area of polymers

CORE/ELECTIVE: Elective

UG/PG: UG and PG

PREREQUISITES: Thermodynamics, Engineering Mathematics.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Companies working on polymers/plastics such as Reliance Industries Limited, GAIL, DuPont, Dow, SABIC.

514 students have enrolled already!!

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:



Dr. Amit Kumar is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Guwahati. His research interests include molecular modeling and simulation, polymers and polymer nanocomposites, and gas adsorption and transport in porous materials. He completed his BTech from IIT Kharagpur and PhD from University of Delaware, USA in Chemical Engineering. He has been teaching an elective course on Polymer Science and Technology to senior undergraduates, Master’s and PhD students at IIT Guwahati for two years.

COURSE LAYOUT:

Week 1  :  INTRODUCTION TO POLYMERS; MODELS OF IDEAL POLYMER CHAINS; REAL CHAINS AND EXCLUDED VOLUME EFFECTS
Week 2  :   THERMODYNAMICS OF POLYMER SOLUTIONS; FLORY-HUGGINS THEORY; PHASE BEHAVIOR, MISCIBILITY AND SOLUBILITY PARAMETER
Week 3  : THERMODYNAMICS OF POLYMER BLENDS AND BLOCK COPOLYMERS; DETERMINATION OF POLYMER MOLAR MASS BY OSMOMETRY
Week 4  :  POLYMER MOLAR MASS BY LIGHT SCATTERING; FRICTIONAL PROPERTIES AND VISCOMETRY; SIZE EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY
Week 5  :  BRANCHING, NETWORK FORMATION AND GELATION
Week 6  :  CRYSTALLINE AND AMORPHOUS POLYMER PHASE; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
Week 7  :  VISCOELASTICITY, MAXWELL AND VOIGT MODELS; NON-NEWTONIAN BEHAVIOR AND RHEOLOGY; RUBBER ELASTICITY
Week 8  :  UNENTANGLED POLYMER DYNAMICS, ROUSE AND ZIMM MODELS; ENTANGLED POLYMER DYNAMICS, REPTATION.

SUGGESTED READING MATERIALS:

1. M.  Rubinstein and R. H. Colby, Polymer Physics, Oxford University Press, 2003.
2. R. J. Young and P.A. Lovell, Introduction to Polymers, 3rd Ed., CRC Press, 2011.
3. J. R. Fried, Polymer Science and Technology, Prentice Hall of India, 2nd Ed., 2009.
4. Gert Strobl, The Physics of Polymers, Springer, 3rd Ed., 2007.

CERTIFICATION EXAM :
  • The exam is optional for a fee.
  • Date and Time of Exam: October 7, 2018 (Sunday): 
  • Time of Exams: Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon session: 2pm to 5pm.
  • Exam for this Course will be available in both morning & afternoon sessions.
  • Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
  • The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published.

CERTIFICATE:

  • Final score will be calculated as : 25% assignment score + 75% final exam score
  • 25% assignment score is calculated as 25% of average of  Best 6 out of 8 assignments
  • E-Certificate will be given to those who register and write the exam and score greater than or equal to 40% final score. Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Guwahati. It will be e-verifiable at http://nptel.ac.in/noc/