Materials Science 5400 - Polymer Science and Engineering

For the .doc version of this syllabus click here.

INSTRUCTOR
Prof. Witold Brostow
Office & Hours: Discovery Park E121, SRB Room 228
Office Phone: 1-940-565-4358
Fax: 1-940-565-4824
Email: brostow[AT]unt.edu, wbrostow[at]yahoo.com
Website: LAPOM

CLASS TIME & LOCATION
See the current class schedule for class time and location

COURSE DESCRIPTION
As early as 1976 the annual production of metals became equal to that of polymeric materials.  Since then the annual production of polymer-based materials (PBMs) increases at a much faster rate than that of metals. Some historians declare that we are now in the Plastics Age. You do not have to believe them, but imagine that suddenly everything made from PBMs would disappear. Little girls would be crying because of the disappearance of their plastic dolls; computers would loose their housings; all-composite airplanes (Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane debuted in July 2007) would disappear too.  Polymer-based concretes would also disappear – while they have better properties than inorganic-based concretes. The reason for the acronym PBM is important: as in the all-composite airplanes, polymers serve more and more as constituents in composite structures – together with metals, ceramics and other kinds of materials.

PBMs are not only a blessing but also cause problems. Together with other materials and products they contribute to contamination of the environment.  This brings us to the issue of biodegradability.  Finally, PBMs not only contribute to degradation of the environment but also can help in containing it.  An example is the development of PBMs that absorb oil spills.  These issues are not covered in existing textbooks but we shall discuss them also.

No prerequisities.

TEXT
Ulf W. Gedde,  Polymer Physics,  Kluver,  lectures in the Power Point format and handouts.  Dr. Tea Dr. Tea Datashvili and Dr. Kevin Menard participated in the course preparation.

GRADING
Homeworks including oral reports...................... 65%
Reports from lab demonstrations & plant trips... 20%
Final examination (Test 3)....................................15%

Graduate students will have somewhat more homework to do. Doing homeworks (concepts, definitions, relationships, problem solving) and then reviewing them in class, the student can check himself/herself the extent of the learning progress made,  and thus decide whether a given rate of effort needs to be maintained,  increased,  or possibly decreased.   Industrial plant trips are eye-openers to some (and job searching opportunities too). The necessity of doing the homework every week takes off the pressure at the end of the semester !  A student working at an even pace  can come to the final test with 85 % of the maximum number of points possible in the course already accumulated.

*Department of Materials Science and Engineering of the University of North Texas will make reasonable adjustments to ensure equal opportunity for qualified persons with disabilities to participate in all their programs and activities.  Please see the instructor if special accommodations are required.