CY1050 : Macromolecules as Engineering Materials

Concepts - Small molecules to macromolecules. Definitions and nomenclature. Classification of polymers, types of polymerizations (chain growth, step growth and living), molecular weights and distribution. An elementary tour of physical methods of determining molecular weights and distribution. (6 hours) Synthesis of Macromolecules - Thermodynamics and kinetics of chain polymerization with reference to industrially important polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl ch