Lecture

Polymer Science: Introduction and Major Polymer Classes

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In course

MSE-360: Polymer science + TP

Introduction to polymer physics and the link between chemical structure and macroscopic properties, with emphasis on morphology and thermomechanical behaviour, polymer technology and manufacturing techniques, providing a basis for the rational selection of ...

Description

This lecture introduces the general aspects of polymer materials, including their historical context, societal relevance, major fields of applications, challenges, and their importance to EPFL. It covers the definition of polymers, examples of natural and synthetic polymers, nanostructure of spider silk, the 'Big Five' synthetic polymers, and the origin and history of polymers. The lecture also discusses the major application segments of plastics, sustainability challenges, beneficial properties of polymers, and the activities related to polymer science at EPFL.

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Instructors (2)

John Christopher Plummer

ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland 1989- Collaborateur Scientifique/Chargé de Cours (Lecturer) (1998-) Privat Docent (1998) Laboratoire de Technologie des Composites et Polymères (LTC) (2000-) Laboratoire de Polymères (LP) (1998-2000) UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (UMICH), Ann Arbor, MI, USA 1995-1996 Visiting Scientist, Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE) UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, UK 1986-1989 Research Assistant, Physics and Chemistry of Solids Group (PCS), Department of Physics UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, UK, Department of Materials 1986 PhD, "Flux Pinning in Type-II Superconductors" UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge, UK, 1982 BA/MA Honours Degree in Natural Sciences Awards Prix R&R Haenny, 2007, DuPont Research Award, 2003, Commendation, British Polymer Group, Reading 1989 RECENT PUBLICATIONS Ramier J, Da Costa N, Plummer CJG, Leterrier Y, Manson JAE, Eckert R, Gaudiana R, Cohesion and adhesion of nanoporous TiO2 coatings on titanium wires for photovoltaic applications, Thin solid films, 516, 1913 (2008). Ramier J, Plummer CJG, Leterrier Y, Manson JAE, Eckert B, Gaudiana R, Mechanical integrity of dye-sensitized photovoltaic fibers, Renewable energy, 33, 314 (2008).

Houphouet-Boigny C, Plummer CJG, Wakeman MD, Manson JAE, Hybrid glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic nanocomposites, J. Thermoplast. Comp. Mater., 21, 103 (2008).

Ternat C, Ouali L, Sommer H, Fieber W, Velazco MI, Plummer CJG, Kreutzer G, Klok HA, Manson JAE, Herrmann, Investigation of the Release of Bioactive Volatiles from Amphiphilic Multiarm Star-Block Copolymers by Thermogravimetry and Dynamic Headspace Analysis, Macromolecules 41(19), 7079 (2008). Ruggerone, R., Plummer, C.J.G., Negrete Herrera, N., Bourgeat-Lami, E., Månson, J-EA, Mechanical properties of highly filled latex-based polystyrene/laponite nanocomposites, Solid State Phenomena Vol. 151, 30 (2009). Plummer, CJG, Dalle Vacche, S, Houphouët-Boigny, C, Michaud, V, Månson, JAE, Hybrid Glass Mat Reinforced Polypropylene-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites, Solid State Phenomena Vol. 151, 60 (2009). Ruggerone, R., Plummer, C.J.G., Negrete Herrera, N., Bourgeat-Lami, E., Månson, J-EA, Highly filled polystyrenelaponite nanocomposites prepared by emulsion polymerization, European Polm. J. 45, 621 (2009). Ruggerone, R., Plummer, C.J.G., Negrete Herrera, N., Bourgeat-Lami, E., Månson, J-EA, Fracture mechanisms in polystyrene/laponite nanocomposites prepared by emulsion polymerization, Engineering Fracture Mechanics 76, 2846 (2009) Clausen P., Andreoni W., Curioni A., Hughs E., Plummer C.J.G. Adsorption of low-molecular-weight molecules on the surface of a sodium smectite clay: an ab initio study, Journal of Physical Chemistry C 113, 12293 (2009). Clausen P., Andreoni W., Curioni A., Hughs E., Plummer C.J.G., Water adsorption on a sodium smectite clay surface: an ab initio study, Journal of Physical Chemistry C 113, 15218 (2009). Molberg, M, Leterrier, Y., Plummer, C.J.G., Walder, C., Löwe, C., Opris, D.M., Nüesch, F.A., Bauer, S., Månson, J.-A.E., Frequency dependent dielectric and mechanical behaviour of elastomers for actuator applications, J. Appl. Phys. 106, 054112 (2009) Clausen P., Signorelli M., Schreiber A., Hughes E., Plummer CJG, Fessas D., Schiraldi A., Månson E. J.-A., Equilibrium desorption isotherms of water, ethanol, ethyl acetate and toluene on a sodium smectite clay, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 98, 833 (2009) Micusik, M., Bonnefond, A., Reyes, Y., Bogner, A., Chazeau, L., Plummer, C.J.G., Paulis, M., Leiza, J.R., Morphology of Polymer/Clay Latex Particles Synthesized by Miniemulsion Polymerization: Modeling and Experimental Results Macromol. React. Eng. 2010, 4, 432 (2010). Houphouet-Boigny C., Plummer CJG, Vacche SD, Michaud V, Wakeman MD, Månson E. J.-A., Hybrid Glass Mat-reinforced Polypropylene-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites, J. Comp. Mater. 44, 1975 (2010). Delabarde, C., Plummer C.J.G., Bourban, P.-E., Månson E. J.-A., Solidification behavior of PLLA/nHA nanocomposites, Comp. Sci. & Tech. 70, 1813 (2010). Plummer C.J.G., Ruggerone R., Negrete-Herrera N., Bourgeat-Lami E., Månson J.-A.E., Small Strain Mechanical Properties of Latex-Based Nanocomposite Films, Macromol. Symp. 294, 1 (2010). Dalle Vacche, S., Plummer C.J.G., Houphouet-Boigny C., Månson E. J.-A., Morphology and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene glass mat thermoplastic composites modified with organophilic montmorillonite, J Mater Sci 46, 2112 (2011).

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Chemistry

Organic chemistry: Polymer chemistry

Related concepts (32)

Polymer science

Polymer science or macromolecular science is a subfield of materials science concerned with polymers, primarily synthetic polymers such as plastics and elastomers. The field of polymer science includes researchers in multiple disciplines including chemistry, physics, and engineering. This science comprises three main sub-disciplines: Polymer chemistry or macromolecular chemistry is concerned with the chemical synthesis and chemical properties of polymers.

Plastics industry

The plastics industry manufactures polymer materials—commonly called plastics—and offers services in plastics important to a range of industries, including packaging, building and construction, electronics, aerospace, manufacturing and transportation. It is part of the chemical industry. In addition, as mineral oil is the major constituent of plastics, it therefore forms part of the petrochemical industry. Besides plastics production, plastics engineering is an important part of the industrial sector.

Polymer chemistry

Polymer chemistry is a sub-discipline of chemistry that focuses on the structures of chemicals, chemical synthesis, and chemical and physical properties of polymers and macromolecules. The principles and methods used within polymer chemistry are also applicable through a wide range of other chemistry sub-disciplines like organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry. Many materials have polymeric structures, from fully inorganic metals and ceramics to DNA and other biological molecules.

Polymer engineering

Polymer engineering is generally an engineering field that designs, analyses, and modifies polymer materials. Polymer engineering covers aspects of the petrochemical industry, polymerization, structure and characterization of polymers, properties of polymers, compounding and processing of polymers and description of major polymers, structure property relations and applications. The word “polymer” was introduced by the Swedish chemist J. J. Berzelius. He considered, for example, benzene (C6H6) to be a polymer of ethyne (C2H2).

Economics of plastics processing

The economics of plastics processing is determined by the type of process. Plastics can be processed with the following methods: machining, compression molding, transfer molding, injection molding, extrusion, rotational molding, blow molding, thermoforming, casting, forging, and foam molding. Processing methods are selected based on equipment cost, production rate, tooling cost, and build volume. High equipment and tooling cost methods are typically used for large production volumes whereas low - medium equipment cost and tooling cost methods are used for low production volumes.

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