Curriculum

Graduates

REQUIRED COURSES

Polymer Physics (POLY 5351 or PHYS 5621) Modern concepts relating to glassy, rubbery and organized states of bulk polymers. Considers rubber elasticity, glass-to-rubber transitions, networks, elements of crystallization, blends and interfacial phenomena.

Polymer Properties (POLY 5352 or CHEG 5352)
Interrelationships between solid state structure, dynamics and mechanical properties of non-crystalline and semi-crystalline polymers. Considers polymer viscoelasticity, diffusion, failure mechanisms, and elementary polymer rheology.

Polymer Synthesis (POLY 5380 or CHEM 5380)
Chemistry of the formation of high polymers, including kinetics, mechanisms and stereochemistry of step growth and additional polymerization. Recent advances in polymer synthesis.

Polymer Physical Chemistry (POLY 5381 or CHEM 5381)
A molecular description of the fundamental physico-chemical aspects of polymer solutions and solids. Considers thermodynamics, statistics, dynamics and structure of polymer molecules.

Polymer Characterization I (POLY 5382 or CHEM 5382)
Experimental techniques for characterizing polymers on a molecular level, with emphasis on the provision of a working knowledge of instrumental analysis. Experiments include dilute solution viscosity, vapor phase osmometry, gel permeation chromatography, chemical and spectroscopic analysis.

Polymer Characterization II (POLY 5384 or CHEM 5384)
Experimental techniques for characterizing polymers, with emphasis on provision of a working knowledge of instrumental analysis. Experiments include calorimetry, IR and fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray structure determination.

Seminar in Polymer Science (POLY 6001) Presentations by invited guest speakers on topics of current interest in various areas of Polymer Science and Engineering.

Auxiliary Courses:

  • Adhesion (CHEG 5356)
  • Biopolymers (POLY 5395 or CHEG 5395) Thermodynamics and kinetics of biopolymers (carbohydrates, proteins, DNA/RNA, lipids/biomembranes). Properties, applications, and connections to current research.
  • Polymer Rheology (POLY 5367 or CHEG 5367)
  • Rheology and Processing Laboratory (CHEG 5368)
  • Nanostructural Characterization – Scattering (POLY 5397 or CHEG 5395)
  • Polymer Processing (POLY 5396 or CHEG 5395)
  • Variable Topics in Polymer Science (POLY 5098) Course topics have limited offerings. Topics include: Renewable Materials, Conductive Polymers, Adhesion, Modern Organic Materials, and more.