Macromolecular Structure and Methods of Investigation

Course unit

title

Scientific direction

Scientific code

Faculty

Department (s)

Macromolecular Structure and Methods of Investigation

Chemical Engineering T 005

Vilnius university

Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Mode of studies

Number of credits

Lectures

0

Consultations

2

Self-studies

8

Seminars

0

Aims of course

Systemize knowledge about structure of individual macromolecules and their ensembles, as well as methods of their investigation.

Main topics

Chain structure and configuration. Steric, geometric and substitutional isomerism. Tacticity in polymers, stereoisomerism. Polymer chain conformations, bond rotation and polymer size. Kuhn segment. Chain models. The random coil. Spheres, rods and coils. Chain stiffness. Radius of gyration. Polymer chain conformations in solutions and in solid state.

Types of copolymers. Distribution of monomeric units in copolymer chains. Size and shape of block- and graft copolymers in solutions.

Supramolecular structure of polymers. Crystalline and amorphous regions. First-order and second-order transitions. Glass transition. Melting phenomena. Crystal structure, crystallinity. Crystallization from the melt. Spherulitic morphology. Kinetics of crystallization. Supramolecular structure of natural polymers, block- and graft copolymers. Oriented polymers.

Experimental determination of macromolecular size and structure. Number-average and weight-average molecular weight. Dispersity of polymers. Determination of polymer molecular weights. Membrane osmometry, size exclusion chromatography, MALDI-TOF-MS. Static and dynamic light scattering in polymer solutions. Study of polymers by NMR, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Study of polymers by X-ray difraction, TEM, SEM and AFM.

Main literature

S. Kolzenburg, M. Maskos, O. Nuyken. Polymer Chemistry. Springer, 2017.

L.H. Sperling. Introduction to Physical Polymer Science. 4th ed. John Wiley & Sons, 2006.

R. Yang. Analytical Methods for Polymer Characterization. CRC Press, 2018.

C.R. Crompton. Characterization of Polymers. Vol. 1& 2. ChemTec Publishing, 2009.

Assessment strategy

Assessment criteria

Exam

Oral exam. 3 questions, one per section. 1 hour for preparation including writing chemical formulas and structures, drawing graphical dependences, and marking essential points. Completeness and accuracy of the answers to 3 main questions and multiple additional questions asked by the board members are evaluated during assessment.

Ričardas Makuška

Dr. (HP)

Prof.

Approved by the Council of Graduate School of Life Sceinces Center No 600000-…-… on the …. of …… 2021

Chairman