Polymer Chemistry and Physical Chemistry (part 2 : Polymer Physical Chemistry)

Teacher(s)

Fustin Charles-André; Gohy Jean-François; Jonas Alain;

Language

English
> French-friendly

Prerequisites

This course requires a previous basic knowledge of the physics and chemistry of polymers, as given in the introductory courses LCHM1361 or LMAPR2019, e.g.

Main themes

This course provides an introduction to the characterization of macromolecules in solution. The course is made of flipped classrooms. All topics are not necessarily covered each year. The course discusses the notions of ideal and real chains, the size of macromolecules in solution, the notions of excluded volume and second virial coefficient, the thermodynamic properties of polymer solutions, and different techniques of characterization of polymers in solution (osmometry, viscometry, size exclusion chromatography, static light scattering).

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	The course aims at providing a deep knowledge of chain growth polymerisation methods, as well as of polymer solutions. At the end of the course, the students will be able to analyse results from experimental methods of determination of the molecular characteristics of a polymer (molar mass, distribution of molar mass, radius of gyration), and to predict its behaviour in solution (solubility, swelling, second viral coefficient, interaction parameter, phase separation). They will also be capable to solve small problems of practical relevance in the field of polymer engineering using these and complementary notions. The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled "Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit".

Content

1. Thermodynamics of solutions of small molecules - reminders
2. Osmometry
3. Solvent quality and swelling of macromolecular chains in solution
4. Viscometry and size exclusion chromatography
5. Phase diagrams of polymer solutions
6. Solubility parameters
7. Osmometry of macromolecular solutions
8. Static light scattering by macromolecular solutions

At the end of the course, the students will be able to analyze results from experimental methods of determination of the molecular characteristics of a polymer, and to predict its behaviour in dilute solution.

Teaching methods

The physical chemistry part of LCHM2261 is made of a small number of classes in flipped classroom format, in which the students resolve small problems and discuss concepts with the teacher, based on a prior reading of a section of the lecture notes and/or on watching podcasts. Before each class, the students have to answer a few questions on their preparative reading (quizzes); their answers are used by the teacher to identify misconceptions and tune the content of the classes. A small interrogation at the end of each class contributes to the continuous evaluation of the students.

Evaluation methods

Part of the marks will be awarded for answers to quizzes prepared for flipped classes. This part will be assessed on the basis of the work done, not the validity of the answers; the use of generative artificial intelligence is not recommended, and excessive use will be considered cheating. Part of the marks will be awarded for continuous assessment of students' knowledge at the end of each flipped class. This part will be assessed on the basis of the accuracy of the answers to the questions, in a context where the use of generative artificial intelligence will not be possible. Finally, the last part of the grade will correspond to an oral exam on more theoretical questions related to the course content; the list of possible questions will be communicated to students at the beginning of the year.
For this part, if x is the score out of 20 obtained for the quizzes, y is the score out of 20 obtained for the tests at the end of the flipped classroom, and z is the score out of 20 obtained for the exam, then the final score out of 20 is max(z,(x+y)/4+z/2), rounded to the nearest whole number, unless the score falls between 9 and 10, in which case it is rounded down to the nearest whole number.
Failure to comply with methodological guidelines, particularly with regard to the use of online resources, generative AI, or collaboration between students, for any part of the continuous assessment will result in an overall score of 0 for the continuous assessment.

Online resources

Lecture notes, podcasts and experimental data will be available on the Moodle website of the course.

Bibliography

L'ouvrage de référence suivant couvre une partie des concepts de LCHM2261B / the following textbook deals with part of the concepts of LCHM2261B:
Paul C. Hiemenz & Timothy P. Lodge, Polymer Chemistry, 2nd edition, CRC Press:Boca Raton, 2007.

Faculty or entity

> CHIM