IDENTIFYING DATA 2014_15
Subject (*) POLYMERIC SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES Code 20204208
Study programme
Degree of Chemical Engineering (2010)
 Cycle 1st
Descriptors Credits Type Year Period
6 Optional 1Q
Language
Anglès
Department Enginyeria Química
Coordinator
BONET AVALOS, JOSÉ
 E-mail josep.bonet@urv.cat
vladimir.baulin@urv.cat
Lecturers
BONET AVALOS, JOSÉ
BAULIN ., VLADIMIR
Web
General description and relevant information The course addresses the main scientific and technologic aspects of polymeric systems for common applications

Competences
Type A Code Competences Specific
 A1.1 Aplicar efectivament el coneixement de les matèries bàsiques, científiques i tecnològiques pròpies de l'enginyeria
 A4.3 Coneixements dels fonaments de ciència, tecnologia i química de materials. Comprendre la relació entre la microestructura, la síntesi o processament i les propietats dels materials (RI3)
Type B Code Competences Transversal
Type C Code Competences Nuclear
 C1.1 Have an intermediate mastery of a foreign language, preferably English
 C1.4 Be able to express themselves correctly both orally and in writing in one of the two official languages of the URV

Learning outcomes
Type A Code Learning outcomes
 A1.1 Aplica correctament els fonaments de ciència, tecnologia i química de materials. Compren la relació entre la microestructura, la síntesi o processament i les propietats dels materials.
 A4.3 Relaciona l'estructura microscòpica de materials polimèrics comuns amb les seves propietats físiques, especialment la resposta mecànica.
Sap aplicar la termodinàmica de dissolucions polimèriques per al càlcul de les seves propietats; coneix els models que descriuen el flux no-newtonià.
És capaç de descriure els principis generals de la polimerització en cadena i escalonada.
Coneix les tècniques de caracterització de la distribució de pesos moleculars i els models comunament utilitzats.
Type B Code Learning outcomes
Type C Code Learning outcomes
 C1.1 Express opinions on abstract or cultural topics in a limited fashion.
Explain and justify briefly their opinions and projects.
Understand instructions about classes or tasks assigned by the teaching staff.
Understand the basic ideas of radio and television programmes.
Understand routine information and articles.
Understand the general meaning of texts that have non-routine information in a familiar subject area.
Take notes during a class.
Write letters or take notes about foreseeable, familiar matters.
 C1.4 Produce written texts that are appropriate to the communicative situation

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
1. Introduction What are the polymers. The polymers in the world. Brief history
2. Morphology Bonds and forces. Individual molecules. Cohesive energy, Physical states, Transition temperatures, Crystallisation, Structure-properties relations
3. Thermodynamics of polymer solutions Non-ideality of polymer solutions; the Flory-Huggins theory. Chemical potential and osmotic pressure. Swell of a chain by solvent. Rubber elasticity. Solubility. Phase equilibria.
4. Polymerisation Reactions of polymerisation. Functionality. Kinetic schemes. Chain polymerisation. Step polymerisation. Polymerisation processes. Copolimerización.
5. Molecular weight distributions Mean values of the molecular weight. Theoretical molecular weight distributions. Empirical molecular weight distributions. Experimental methods to analyse the molecular weight.
6. Viscoelasticity Mechanical behaviour of the polymeric materials. viscous solids and elastic liquids. Models for the viscoelastic behaviour. Molecular motions and transition temperatures.
7. Rheology Characteristics of non-Newtonian flow. Dependence of the viscosity with the shear rate. Dependence of the viscosity with the molecular weight. Dependence of the viscosity with the temperature. Normal stresses.

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Competences (*) Class hours
 Hours outside the classroom
 (**) Total hours
Introductory activities
1 1.5 2.5
Lecture
A1.1
A4.3
 35 53 88
Problem solving, exercises
A1.1
A4.3
 15 21 36
Personal tuition
C1.4
 1 1.5 2.5
 
Objective short-answer tests
A1.1
A4.3
 4 2 6
Mixed tests
A1.1
A4.3
 3 4.5 7.5
Mixed tests
A1.1
A4.3
 3 4.5 7.5
 
(*) On e-learning, hours of virtual attendance of the teacher.
(**) The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies
  Description
Introductory activities The professor will explain the dynamics of the course:
- Subjects
- Hands out activities with impact to the evaluation. The conditions of the continuous evaluation
- Dates of the evaluation activities
- Recommendations for the course

The introduction to the polymers as subject
Lecture The professor explains the contents of the notes of the course, available to the students through Moodle.
Problem solving, exercises Proposed exercises are solved and discussed in class.
Personal tuition Questions regarding the contents of the course are discussed face to face with the professor during attention hours

Personalized attention
Description
The professors of the course will be available to discuss the contents of the subject as well as the proposed exercises. The professor cannot guarantee be available in a fixed schedule. Instead, the student may ask for a meeting through the email. The meeting will then be scheduled and the student will receive the response through email.

Assessment
Methodologies Competences Description Weight        
Objective short-answer tests
A1.1
A4.3
 Hands out:

The students are asked to solve a given set of short questions/exercises during 1 hour and deliver them. About 4-5 hands out exercises will take place during the course, at specified days that will appear in the Moodle.

It is mandatory to attend at least the 80% of the hands out to be evaluated in the first (continuous evaluation) call. 		25%
Mixed tests
A1.1
A4.3
 During the course there will be a partial exam about mid semester. The exam will consists of a test about theoretical issues of the course. The value of the test will be the 40% of the total mark. The incorrect answers will count negatively.

Together with the test, several exercises (typically a couple) will be proposed for solution. This part will be the 60% of the total markof the exam.

The partial exam will be properly scheduled 		25%
Mixed tests
A1.1
A4.3
 At the end of the period there will be a final exam embracing the content of the whole course.

The exam will consists of a test about theoretical issues of the course. The value of the test will be the 40% of the total mark. The incorrect answers will be count negatively.

Together with the test, several exercises (typically a couple) will be proposed for solution. This part will be the 60% of the total mark of the exam . 		50%
Others  
 
Other comments and second exam session

The first call corresponds to the continuous evaluation. This implies that the students have to follow the evaluation items. This includes the 80% of the hands outs plus the partial exam plus the final exam. The absences to these exams and exercises will not be recovered and the student will have a zero of the particular item.

The second call (convocatòria) will consists of the same kind of exercise as the final exam with more questions and exercises to be solved, to cover a larger scope. The topics will be those of the whole course. The persons that pass this exam will pass the subject.

During the evaluation sessions mobile phones, tablets or other electronic aparatus that are not explicitly authorised for the evaluation session should be kept off and out of sight.


Sources of information

Basic Ferdinand Rodriguez, Claude Cohen, Christopher K. Ober, Lynden A. Archer, Principles of polymer systems, Paperback, Taylor & Francis; 4 edition (April 1996)

Several copies of this book, some of them of rather old editions, can be found at the Sescelades library.
Complementary J.R Fried, Polymer Science and Technology, Hardcover, Prentice and Hall, 1995
H.J. Elias, Macromoleules, Hardcover, Weinheim : John Wiley-VCH Verlag, cop. 2005-2009

Many of the contents of the course can be found at internet. 
Recommendations

Subjects that continue the syllabus
POLYMER ENGINEERING/20204209


Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY/20204004
MATHEMATICS II/20204006
MATHEMATICS III/20204007
MATHEMATICS I/20204005
THERMODYNAMICS/20204114
MATERIALS SCIENCE/20204108
RESISTANCE OF MATERIALS/20204109
 
Other comments
Although the course does not rely on previous subjects, its nature requires a certain maturity of the student with regard to physico-chemical aspects. Having passed the recommended subjects would be a sign of such maturity, although strictly speaking they are not necessary. The subject Polymer Engineering is the natural continuation of the course. This course and the last mentioned one have to be regarded as a single unit for the students willing to have a solid background in such important materials ubiquitous in our life.
(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.