This is an introductory module which outlines the basic aspects of polymer synthesis, polymer properties, and polymer characterisation.

The aims of the module are:

• To explain illustrate how synthetic polymers are synthesized by various techniques.
• To demonstrate aspects of the relationship between molecular structure physical properties for synthetic polymers.
• To explain the methods available for the characterisation of polymers.

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

1. Name common monomers and polymers.
2. Understand the basic synthetic routes of step growth and chain growth polymerisation.
3. Understand the concept of ‘living polymerisation’.
4. Discuss the methods available for the basic characterisation of synthetic polymers.
5. Discuss the various polymer morphologies that can be synthesized.
6. Understand the relationship between polymer structure and physical properties.
7. Discuss the different methods available for synthesizing branched polymers.
8. Discuss the different methods available for synthesizing dendrimers.

• Introduction to polymer chemistry and polymer properties (2 lectures)  

What is a polymer? Glass transition temperature and melting temperature, how to make a chain molecule, molecular weights, end groups and side chains, polymer chains in solution, how to measure polymer properties.

 •Polymerization reactions: step-growth; chain-growth; basic mechanisms (3 lectures)

Step growth versus addition with examples of arange of materials in each.  The Flory-Huggins and Flory-Stockmayer theory. Anionic / cationic / GTP / free radical polymerizations.  "Living" polymerization.

 • Polymer structure: effect of reaction conditions on polymer structure, effects of polymer structure on physical properties (3lectures) 

Isotactic, syndiotactic, atactic, branching, statistical copolymers, gradients, b locks, grafts and branched

 •Polymers for large-scale practical application in industry and in the consumer sector (1 lecture)

Home and personal care, bulk engineering materials, adhesives, rubbers

 •Polymers for smaller-scale, 'hi-tech' applications (1 lecture)

Light-emitting polymers for flat-screen displays, electronics industry including positive and negative resists,micropatterning, phase separation

•Advanced methods for control of polymer structure: atom transfer free-radical

polymerization(4 lectures) 

Hyperbranched polymers and dendrimers +applications, controlled structures, monodisperse materials
•New environmental approaches to polymer synthesis (2 lectures)

This module consists of 16 lectures (50 minutes).  Problems will be set at the end of two of the lectures, to be discussed in a subsequent problem class. Students should expect to spend at least six hours on each set of problems.

To be decided