Course: Polymers

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Course title Polymers
Course code KCH/PPO
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Lesson
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction Czech, English
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements Course does not contain work placement
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Jenčová Věra, doc. Ing. Ph.D.
Course content
Lectures: 1. History, basic concepts, nomenclature (systematic names, polymer groups, trivial names) 2. Principles of macromolecule formation: chain polymerization and step-reaction polymerization 3. Free radical chain polymerization, Ionic chain polymerization 4. Ringopening polymerization, coordination polymerization, technically important polymers 5. Step- reaction polymerization: polyaddition, polycondensation, technically important polymers 6. Polymer structure: isolated macromolecules (constitution, conformation, configuration) 7. Polymer structure: amorphous and semicrystalline polymers, the supramolecular structure of macromolecules 8. Molecular weight of polymers, determination methods, solubility 9. Thermal behavior of polymers 10. Polymer StructureProperty Relationships: plastics, fibers, adhesives, gels, elastomers ... 11. Copolymers, copolymerization, technically important copolymers 12. Reactions of polymers (groups reactions, crosslinking, degradation) 13. Naturally occurring polymers: cellulose, other polysaccharides (structure, function, synthesis) 14. Naturally occurring polymers: proteins (structure, function, synthesis) ¨ Practical courses: Laboratory exercises are focused on practical exercises and verification of students' knowledge gained during lectures and study of recommended literature. 1. Hydrogel formation (gelatine), gel-sol transition, pH effect 2. Polymer degradation (styrene depolymerization) 3. Polycondensation (polyamide preparation, preparation of polysulphide rubber) 4. Free radical polymerization (preparation of PMMA) 5. Reaction of polymers (Preparation of PVA) 6. Average molecular weight of polymer (viscometry, Thin layer chromatography, DNA electrophoresis) 7. Identification of common polymers

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monological explanation (lecture, presentation,briefing), Self-study (text study, reading, problematic tasks, practical tasks, experiments, research, written assignments), Laboratory work, Individual consultation
  • Class attendance - 56 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basics of macromolecular chemistry. Students will be acquainted with polymerization reactions leading to the formation of polymers, with a hierarchical structure of polymers in order to understand the principles of behavior of polymers depending on their structure. The problem is discussed in the examples, which include both conventional and special polymers, also in connection with the polymers used for the production of textile materials. Part of the lectures are dedicated to naturally occurring polymers.
Student acquire knowledges of subject.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledges about organic chemistry

Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam, Written exam, Didactic test

Credit: Participation on seminars. Exam: writtten + oral
Recommended literature
  • Carraher, Jr. Ch. E. Giant Molecules, Essentials Materials for Everyday Living and Problem Solving, Wiley- Inter., ISBN 0-471-27399-6..
  • Elias, H.G. Macromolekules. ISBN 978-3-527-31172-9.
  • Prokopová, J. Makromolekulárni chemie, skriptum VŠCHT Praha, 2004.
  • Stibor, I., Schejbalová, H. Makromolekulární chemie, skriptum TUL, 2004, ISBN 80-7083-879-5.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester