Introduction to Polymeric Materials
3.0
creditsAverage Course Rating
Polymeric materials are ubiquitous in our society from Nature-made proteins and polysaccharides to synthetic plastics and fibers. Their applications range from day-to-day consumables to high performance materials used in critically demanding areas, such as aviation, aerospace and medical devices. The objective of this course is to provide an introductory overview on the field of polymer science and engineering. Students will learn some basic concepts in polymer synthesis, characterization, and processing. With the basic concepts established, industrial applications of polymeric materials will be discussed in two categories: structural polymers and functional polymers. Structural polymers, including plastics, fibers, rubbers, coatings, adhesives, and composites, will be discussed in terms of their structure, processing, and property relationship with a flavor of industrial relevant products and applications. Future trends in developing environmentally friendly polymers from renewable resources (“green polymer chemistry”) will also be covered. Lectures on functional polymers will be focused on their unique properties that are enabled by rational molecular design, controlled synthesis and processing (e.g. supramolecular assembly, and microfabrication). This class of specialty materials can find their use in high performance photovoltaics, batteries, membranes, and composites, and can also serve as “smart” materials for use in coatings, sensors, medical devices, and biomimicry.
Fall 2014
Professor: Honggang Cui
Students discovered that the best aspect of this course was the effective teaching of the instructors and the thorough introduction to the subject matter the class provided. They thought the biggest drawback of the course was that the material covered in lectures seemed repetitive at times. Students felt the course could be improved with greater interactivity. Some students also thought that some class 68sessions might benefit from being conducted in laboratory spaces. Students thought that it was useful for others thinking about taking this course that it requires a manageable, but not overwhelming amount of work.