Polymeric Materials I

Code:

EQ0099

Acronym:

MP I

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Technological Sciences (Chemical Engineering)

Instance: 2009/2010 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemical Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Chemical Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEQ	8	Syllabus	4	-	5	56	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This course unit aims to endow students with supplementary training in the domains of Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering and other technical-professional areas, in order to prepare them to work in a company which produce, transform and/or commercialise polymers.
Students should acquire advanced knowledge in production, transformation and application of the main synthetic and artificial polymers and materials that contain them.
Students should also be capable of improving the production processes of these materials, which includes the design and projection of the necessary equipment. Therefore they should acquire skills to design, even in situations where they are not totally familiar with the data.
A special emphasis is given to the assessment of enterprise and societal context of production methods, in particular about the economic and environmental sustainability.
Students should also acquire skills in bibliography research, technical English (most of the support material is in English), new computer applications adapted to modelling of polymerization and forecasting, as well as oral and written communication skills by given presentations and writing small scientific papers.

Program

Chemical constitution of the main polymers with technological relevance;
Polymer phase transformation;
Physical properties of polymers in liquid state and solution; Chains, molecular size and elasticity;
Measurement of molecular mass and molecular size;
Properties of mass transfer and concentrated solution; Introduction to the equipment of production and transformation of polymeric materials;
Introduction to polymerization reactors; Group balance and reactive species;
Analysis of the main processes of polymerization including large scale production (such as polyolefin, polyester, polyurethane, formaldehyde resin…) and application of added value products (medicaments and other substance, super-absorbents, membranes…)

Mandatory literature

Fried, Joel R.; Polymer science & technology. ISBN: 0-13-018168-4
Sperling, L. H., 1932-; Introduction to Physical Polymer Science. ISBN: 978-0-471-70606-9
Allcock, Harry R.; Contemporary polymer chemistry. ISBN: 0-13-170549-0 ncadernado
George Odian; Principles of polymerization. ISBN: 0-471-61020-8
ed. by Thierry Meyer, Jos Keurentjes; Handbook of polymer reaction engineering. ISBN: 3-527-31014-2

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-practical classes are based on the presentation of the themes of the course unit, with support of transparencies and resolution of exercises, which illustrate the themes of the course unit.
Some classes will take place at the computer room, in order to solve problems related to the simulation of polymerization processes.
The remaining classes will be based on laboratory assignments: production, measurement of physical and chemical properties of polymers and study visits.

Software

Matlab

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	64,00
Project about polymerization processes	Defesa pública de dissertação, de relatório de projeto ou estágio, ou de tese			2010-04-26
Reports about lab demonstrations and technical visits	Exame			2010-06-07
Test abut physical properties of polymers and estimation of molecular size and mass	Exame	2,00		2010-03-12
Test on polymerization processes	Exame	2,00		2010-05-21
	Total:	-	0,00

Eligibility for exams

To be admitted to exams, students have to attend classes and study visits, unless otherwise agreed.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade (FG):

FG= 0.2 Te1 + 0.3 A1 + 0.2 Te2 + 0.30R

Te1: test about polymers properties, mass measurement and molecular size (a part of the test is closed book)
Te2: test about polymerization processes (a part of the test is closed book)
A1: an individual assignment about a process of polymerization, including some results of the simulation and analysis
R: individual reports about laboratory assignments and study visits

Examinations or Special Assignments

An individual assignment about a process of polymerization, including some results of the simulation and analysis;
Individual reports about laboratory assignments and study visits;

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with a special status can neither do the laboratory assignments, nor projects and study visits. Their assessment will be based on an exam (a part of the exam is closed book).

Classification improvement

Re-attending tests
Redoing A1 within a week
Redoing a laboratory assignment randomly chosen (a date will be set)
Students cannot improve the grade of the report about the study visit.