ABOUT COURSE

Course 1. FUNDAMENTALS OF POLYMER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

A brief overview of historical evolution of polymers, Polymers classification by chemical structure and synthesis method, General physical and mechanical properties of polymers.  Feedstock in polymer production,.Principles of polymerization: Classification of polymerization reaction, step-growth polymerization; kinetics, chain length regulation, Carothers equation.Addition / chain growth polymerization, mechanism and kinetics of chain growth polymerization, ionic polymerization, chain transfer, inhibition and retardation, control of molecular weight. Industrial polymerization techniques.

Course 2. POLYMER MORPHOLOGY-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS 

Structure of polymers: thermoplastic, thermoset, rubber, Linear, branched, cross-linked, and network polymers. Homochain and hetero atomic chain polymers, Copolymers, Linear and cyclic arrangement Prediction of polymer properties, group contribution techniques, topological techniques volumetric properties: molar volume, density, Van der Waals volume. Polymer properties affected by their chemical composition and molecular architecture              Polymer Structures/Morphology: Morphology-processing-property relationships deformation mechanisms and orientation, study of spherulites; thermodynamics and kinetic forces affecting polymer crystallization, physical techniques for studying crystal structure and morphology of polymers.

Course 3. POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND CHARACTERIZATION 

Properties and applications: Commodity and engineering thermoplastics & thermosets, High performance engineering polymers.Elastomers and Thermoplastic Elastomers: Natural and synthetic elastomers, compounding, vulcanization and role of various additives in their preparation and applications.Specialty Polymers: Polyimides, Ionic, conductive, Inorganic polymers, High Performance Fibers, Liquid Crystal Polymers.Characterization & Testing of Polymers and Polymer Blends: Significance of polymer characterization and testing. Molecular Weight Determination: Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), light scattering and viscometry.Molecular Spectroscopy: Overview, UV and visible spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Thermal Characterization: Melt flow index, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Microscopy: Optical and electron microscopy

Course 4. POLYMER PROCESSING

Basic processing operations: Extrusion process (Single and twin screw extruder), Injection moulding, Blow moulding(extrusion blow moulding, injection blow moulding, and stretch blow moulding), Mould and dies, Calendaring, Film blowing, Thermoforming, Rotational moulding, Compression and transfer moulding, Reaction injection moulding.Principles of Polymer Processing: Polymer melt flow in channels and cavities, Modelling and analysis of various polymer processing operations, (e.g. extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, compression molding and fiber spinning). Processing of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and cast polypropylene (CPP) films.

Course 5. POLYMER RHEOLOGY      

Flow properties of polymer melts: Bulk deformation, elongational flow, shear flow, entrance and exit effects, elastic effects in polymer melt flow, die swell, and melt fracture. Parameters Influencing Polymer Rheology: Factors affecting flow behavior (e.g. temperature, molecular weight distribution, additives, blend composition and morphology etc.) The Role of Rheology in Polymer Processing: Melt flow index, flow analysis using rheological models, extensional viscosity and melt strength, rheological problems in co-extrusion (layer-to-layer non- uniformity, interfacial instability, trouble-shooting with the help of rheology.