Polymer synthesis and characterization

• Construct standard polymerization setups on a laboratory scale
• Account for the use of inhibitors in monomers and perform purification of monomers
• Perform suspension, emulsion, controlled free radical or ring opening polymerizations.
• Conduct kinetic studies of the selected polymerization technique and apply this to obtain a desired product.
• Apply and describe the principles behind standard purification techniques applied in polymer science.
• Characterize polymers chemically by SEC, FT-IR, NMR and prove the product structure based on these techniques.
• Perform analysis and relate these to the physical properties of polymers by DSC, TGA and Rheology.
• Combine theory and experimental work to propose new systems and new polymers.
• Discuss and present state of the art literature on a specific polymerization method.
• Reflect over the performed experiments and document the experimental work in a scientific manner.
• Present the results in a poster session.

The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, all groups work with the synthesis of linear polymers via suspension and emulsion polymerization. In the second part, a short specialization track is chosen, allowing students to gain experience with common techniques for the synthesis of polymers and block copolymers (e.g. free radical polymerization, controlled radical polymerization, ring-opening polymerization, enzymatic polymerization) or more polymer-technology-oriented activities such as processing or formulation of elastomers. The specialization tracks may also include work with bio-based monomers, network polymers, fabrication and testing of composite materials, and surface modification.
In all tracks, the course includes purification and characterization of polymers. The prepared polymers are analysed using SEC, FT‑IR, NMR, DSC, TGA, and rheology. Structural characterization is performed based on the combined results from these techniques.
Finally, the experimental work is documented and reported in a scientific format and presented in a poster session.

28212/28213

Laboratory excercises and presentations

Maximum: 18.

Please be aware that this course has a limited number of seats available. If there are too many applicants, a pool will be created for the remainder of the qualified applicants, and they will be selected at random. You will be informed 8 days before the start of the course, whether you have been allocated a spot.