Subject description

The aim of this course is to introduce the student to polymer materials. They are a today common material used in all fields of applications. Polymer materials with a wide variety of properties can be produced and the properties be tailored with respect to the end-use demands. Basic material knowledge … For more content click the Read More button below.

Enrolment rules

Pre-Requisite

Tutorial enrolment

Students can enrol online via the Tutorial Enrolment link in SOLS

Delivery

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Teaching staff

Subject coordinators

Engagement hours

Contact Hours:2hr lecture and 2hr tutorial/practical

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
1.
Describe the concepts monomers, polymers, and plastics, give names on common polymers;
2.
Describe the concept of glass transition;
3.
Understand kinetic-, free volume-, and thermodynamic theories for the glass transition;
4.
Describe the concept of semi-crystallinity and the structure of semi-crystalline polymers and how this can be studied experimentally;
5.
Describe the concept of viscoelasticity;
6.
Describe tensile and creep testing;
7.
Describe polymer processing techniques;
8.
Describe molecular weights and molecular weight distributions;
9.
Apply fundamental statistical mechanics on the shape of polymer chains in different states;
10.
Describe the basics of rubber elasticity;
11.
Be able to predict mechanical, chemical and physical properties of various common plastics based upon their molecular, micro, and macro structures;
12.
Be able to understand major processes for polymer-based materials and compare the merits and demerits of these processes for making specific parts.

Assessment details

Mid session quiz
Tutorial quiz
Essay
Seminar
Final Exam

Textbook information

David I. Bower, An introduction to polymer physics, Cambridge University press, 2002. https://books.google.com.au/books?vid=ISBN052163721X&printsec=frontcover&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Contact details

Faculty contact

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