Advanced chemistry and physics of polymers

The fundamental learning objective of this course is to provide Students with a clear picture of the fundamental concepts of the synthesis and characterization of polymers useful for addressing the study of advanced monographic courses on polymers. In the first phase of the course, the introductory notions normally provided in the basic courses on polymers will be resumed.
Students will acquire a thorough knowledge of both classical and advanced mechanisms for the synthesis of polymers. Particular emphasis will be given to the controlled syntheses of complex polymeric architectures, including among the latter the controlled radical polymerization and ring-opening polymerization mechanisms.
Students will learn the thermal properties of polymers and their methods of determination.
Students will acquire a global vision of the different methods of determining molecular weights, both classical and advanced.
Students will learn the rheological properties of polymers and the importance of their knowledge for the correct development of the polymer processing stages.
Finally, the basic notions of the mechanical and dynamic-mechanical properties of polymers will be introduced.

At the end of the course, the Student will be able to:
1. Define the basic concepts and terms essential for the study of polymer science.
2. Identify the classes of polymerizable monomers with the synthetic mechanisms described.
3. Describe the fundamental mechanisms used for the synthesis of complex and controlled polymer architectures, in particular using living polymerization mechanisms.
4. Understand the different characteristics of the amorphous and crystalline solid state of polymers and the influence of the transition temperatures typical of these states on the physical properties and workability of the polymers.
5. Interpret simple calorimetric traces of the DSC type, identifying melting and glass transition temperatures and physical aging phenomena.
6. Interpret simple thermogravimetric (TGA) plots to determine the thermal stability of polymers and the composition of polymer blends.
7. Interpret simple MALDI-TOF spectra for the identification of the distribution of the molecular masses of the polymers and their structural details.
8. Interpret simple SEC spectra. For the determination of the molecular weights of polymers.
9. Classify the rheological curves of polymers.
10. Know the basic definitions and constitutive equations that describe the viscoelastic behavior of polymers.