Polymers

Be able to:
- interpret the properties of polymeric materials on the basis of their structure and formulation
- identify the different levels of organization: from the linking of unit units in macromolecules to phase demixing in heterogeneous materials, via macromolecular cohesion and semi-crystalline morphology
- understand polymerization mechanisms to better control molar masses, their distribution and the architecture of macromolecules.

1 - Introduction
1.1 - Definitions
1.2 - Organic polymers among other materials
1.3 - Different classifications

a) classification according to origin
b) classification according to structure
c) classification according to properties
d) classification according to applications

1.4 - A brief history
2 - Notions of macromolecules
2.1 - Linking monomer units

a) homopolymers



i) vinyl polymers
ii) diene polymers
iii) special architectures



b) copolymers

2.2 - Stereoisomerism

a) background on isomerism



i) function isomerism
ii) position isomerism
iii) configuration isomerism






geometric isomerism








optical isomerism






iv) conformational isomerism




v) summary



b) configuration isomerism in macromolecules



i) simple tacticity
ii) cis-trans geometric isomerism



c) conformational isomerism in macromolecules



i) statistical conformations






flexible joint chain model
free rotation chain model
hindered rotation chain model






ii) regular conformations






trans-planar conformation
helical conformation




2.3 - Macromolecular masses

a) definitions
b) main methods of determination



i) determination of end groups
ii) methods using Raoult's laws


tonometry
osmometry


iii) light scattering
iv) viscosimetry
v) steric exclusion chromatography (SEC)

Molecular and Polymer Chemistry