Polymer Physics

General characterization

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

P.J.Flory, "Principles of Polymer Chemistry", Cornell Univ. Press, 1978

R.J.Young, "Introduction to Polymers", Chapman and Hall, London, 1981

L. R. G. Treloar, "The Physics of Rubber Elasticity", Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1975

E. Hecht, "Óptica", Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisboa, 2012

Teaching method

The teaching of this unit involves three aspects: a theoretical formation on  the to pics of the syllabus, which  is the purpose of the  theoretical classes,  experimental work,  in groups, in the Laboratory, and  one  or  two  guided visits to  industrial factories working in  the  area of polymers. Emphasis is given to  the understanding  of the topics in the program  of the  unit.  In  the practical classes,  the students are asked to  discuss and  solve the problems proposed, in groups, with  the help  of the teacher.

Evaluation method

METHOD TO USE - ADAPTATION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC COVID19

SCENARIO 1 - "Continuous" evaluation

- short exercises, to be done at the end of some theoretical and/or practical classes. We reserve 15-20 min at the end of the classes for its realization (10% for the final grade). The exercises will not have a minimum grade!

- the reports of the laboratory classes (30% for the final grade) (UC attendance is given by the realization of the practical classes according to the planning delivered at the beginning of the semester);

- the average of the tests counts 60% for the final grade. In the case of online tests the questions will be made available with a maximum time for sending the answer by email (photo of the resolution).

- the tests can be replaced by a final exam.

To carry out the UC for continuous evaluation, it is necessary that the grade of the 1st test is not less than 7.0 values. Otherwise, the student is admitted to the exam, as long as he / she has attended the UC.

SCENARIO 2 - Evaluation by final exam

- laboratory classes reports will count 30% for the final grade;

- the final exam counts 75% for the final grade.

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Students will be able to choose any of the scenarios. In the case of scenario 1, there will be no mandatory resolution of the exercises (however, a exrcise that was not answered will have a score of 0).

Classifications equal or higher than 16 values ​​may be subject to an oral evaluation.

Subject matter

Conformation and structural models of polymer chains. Statistics of the freely jointed chain, end-to-end distance and its statistical distribution, gyration radius. Equation of state of a polymer chain. Real chains in dilute solutions. Dilution: method of chain isolation. Intrinsic viscosity. Effects of the excluded volume. Good and bad solvents. Entanglements. Conformation of chains in solids and isotropic liquids. Thermodynamics of polymer solutions. Flory-Huggins theory. Dilute polymer solutions. Sol-gel transition. Rubber vulcanization. Theory of rubber elasticity.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: