610-398 Polymer Chemistry and Spectroscopy

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Objectives:

On completion of 610-398 the student should:

Comprehend:

• the basic principles of spectroscopy - atomic, molecular, electronic, nuclear and mass spectrometry;

• the basic instrumental design for obtaining such spectra;

• the application of these forms of spectroscopy to chemical problems;

• the difference in synthesis and properties of high molecular weight compounds with those of small molecules;

• the variety of polymeric materials, natural and synthetic polymers, carbon-based and non-carbon-based.

Have developed:

• skills to solve chemical problems by spectroscopic techniques;

• skills to characterise polymer molecular weight and propose mechanisms of polymerisations.

Appreciate:

• the importance of rational, critical and independent thought in the understanding of chemical spectroscopy and high polymers;

• the applications and importance of spectroscopic methods and polymeric materials.

Content:

Polymers (13 lectures) - natural and synthetic polymers; classification and characterisation; step-growth and chain-growth polymerisation; silicones, silicates and zeolites.

Spectroscopy (13 lectures) - Principles and applications of IR and UV/V spectroscopy. Theory and practice of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.

Assessment: