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GRADUATE LEVEL (9841)

601   Polymer Engineering Seminar   1 credit

Presentations of recent research on topics in polymer engineering by internal and external speakers.

611   Structural Characterization of Polymers with Electromagnetic Radiation   2 credits

Characterization of orientation, morphology, superstructure in polymers using x-ray, light scattering, birefringence, dichroism. Crystal-lography, unit cell determination.

621   Rheology of Polymeric Fluids   3 credits

Experimental methods of determination of rheological properties of polymer melts, solutions, elastomers. Structure-flow behavior relationships, viscoelastic fluid theory, application to extrusion, fiber, film processing molding. Structure development in processing.

622   Analysis and Design of Polymer Processing Operations I   3 credits

Prerequisite: 621.
Mathematical modeling and engineering design analysis of polymer processing operations Including extruder screws, injection molds, dies, fibers, film formation.

623   Analysis and Design of Polymer Processing Operations II   3 credits

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Basic studies on non-isothermal phenomena in polymer engineering emphasizing crystallization, vitrification, frozen-in orientation and residual stresses, applications, including fiber spinning and film extrusion.

631   Engineering Properties of Solid Polymers   2 credits

Transitions as a function of polymer structure, optical characteristics, mechanical including ultimate properties, viscoelastic behavior of elastomers and plastics, large strain behavior emphasis on experimental methods.

641   Polymeric Materials Engineering Science   2 credits

Physioco-chemical properties of amorphous and crystalline polymers. Glass transitions, crystallization, molecular orientation and morphology of important commercial polymers, fabricated products and composite materials.

650   Basic Engineering for Polymer Engineers   3 credits

Basic concepts of polymer engineering taught in lecture-laboratory format intended for orientation of new graduate students.

651   Polymer Engineering Laboratory   3 credits

Rheological characterization of polymer melts, rubber and plastic extrusion, extrudate swell, injection and compression molding, crystallization behavior, x-ray diffraction, film blowing, impact and tensile testing.

661   Polymerization Reactor Engineering   3 credits

Polymerization kinetics, classical reactor design, comparison of polymerization in batch and continuous stirred tank reactors, flow patterns around agitators, tubular reactors, reactor stability.

680   Polymer Coatings   3 credits

This course is an introduction to coating science. The synthesis of polymeric binders and pigments used in commodity coatings will be the focus of the first part of the course. The second part of the course will focus on coatings formulation and end-use applications for commodity coatings.

699   Master's Research   1-6 credits

May be repeated.
Supervised original research in specific area of polymer engineering.

712   Rheo-Optics of Polymers   2 credits

Applications of rheo-optical methods as means of determining stress fields in polymeric glasses and fluids during deformation, rheo-optical properties of polymers in glassy, rubbery and fluid states. Theory of dynamic birefringence and its application to mechanical relaxations of amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers, and recent experimental results.

715   Advanced Characterization of Functional Polymers   3 credits

This course will focus on the advanced structural and functional property characterization techniques including optical, electrical, magnetic and others. A particular focus will be the influence of the history of polymer processing on these properties.

720   Molecular Aspects of Polymer Rheology   2 credits

Prerequisite: 621 or permission of instructor.
Molecular theory for concentrated solutions and melts of flexible homopolymers, molecular rheology of miscible polymer blends, block copolymers, and liquid crystalline polymers.

721   Rheology and Processing Two-Phase Polymer Systems   2 credits

Prerequisite: 622 or equivalent.
Particle-particle interactions, mixing devices and design, theoretical hydrodynamics of suspensions of rigid particles, experimental studies of rheological behavior, phenomenological theories representing suspension behavior, dispersion of droplets to form an emulsion, phase morphology development and rheological properties of blends.

722   Advanced Modelling of Polymer Processing   2 credits

Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
Modelling of processing operations including extrusion molding, fiber and film processing, computer-aided design.

723   Rheology and Processing of Elastomers   2 credits

Interpretation of rheological properties and critical study and analysis of processing operations including behavior in internal mixers, screw extruders, die systems and vulcanization molding.

724   Advanced Extrusion and Compounding   2 credits

Principles of operation and flow in single and twin screw extruders, screw design, characteristics of internal mixers, analysis and simulation of flow.

725   Chemorheology and Processing of Thermosets   2 credits

Prerequisites: 621 or 622 or permission of instructor.
Rheological behavior of thermosets, vulcanization of rubbers, time-temperature-transition relationships in thermosets, reaction injection molding, compression/transfer molding, pultrusion.

727   Advanced Polymer Rheology   2 credits

Prerequisite: 621 or equivalent.
Second level course in non-linear constitutive equation for viscoelastic, viscoplastic, viscoelastic-plastic polymeric materials. Utility and applicability to polymer processing problems.

728   Numerical Methods in Polymer Engineering   3 credits

Prerequisite: 621, 622, 623, and 631.
Basics of generally accepted numerical methods. Numerical problems in polymer solid mechanics and technological applications. Numerical problems in polymer fluid mechanics and polymer processing.

731   Stress Analysis of Polymers and Composites   2 credits

Prerequisite: 631.
The design of rubber mounts, bearings and sandwich components with demonstration of finite element methods. Classical plates and shells theories with applications to composite structures.

745   Liquid Crystals   2 credits

Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
Structure of low molecular weight and polymeric liquid crystals, characterization, physical properties including optical properties, phase transitions, structure-property relationships, processing of polymeric species.

747   Polymer Colloids   3 credits

Colloidal dispersions, phase stability, aggregation structures, thermodynamics, kinetics of phase transitions in polymer colloids. Emulsion and solution polymerization, organic/ inorganic hybrid materials, coating technology. Rheology of colloidal polymers.

749   Phase Transitions in Polymer Blends and Alloys   3 credits

Elucidating thermodynamics of polymer blends, block copolymers, crystalline/liquid crystalline polymers, and kinetics of phase transitions. Structure development and modeling of reactive polymer blends.

761   Injection and Compression Molding Fundamentals   2 credits

This course provides fundamental knowledge in physical, thermal and rheological properties required for injection and compression molding including theoretical and experimental aspects of various molding processes.

770   Polymer Nanocomposites   3 credits

      Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

Develops understanding on synthesis, characterization, processing and properties of polymer nanocomposite materials involving nanoscale fillers in conjunction with thermosetting, thermoplastic, and elastomeric polymer matrices.

773   Advanced Polymer Coating Technology   2 credits

The polymeric binders used in radiation-curable coatings, coatings for electronic packaging and waterborne coatings will be stressed. The chemistry of dyes and the coatings science of pigments will be presented. The chemistry of polymer degradation will also be covered.

777   Modeling of Nanoscale Materials   3 credits

Introduces molecular simulation methods (Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics) and their application to polymer-related materials at the molecular and coarse-grain levels.

778   Advanced Functional Polymers   2 credits

This course focuses on the recent development of functional polymers for applications as advanced materials and smart devices, which requires the attendant to possess some prior knowledge of polymer science and polymer engineering from such 600 level course(s) as mentioned above.

797   Advanced Topics in Polymer Engineering   2-3 credits

Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
May be repeated.
Advanced special topics.

898   Preliminary Research   1-15 credits

May be repeated.
Preliminary investigation of Ph.D. dissertation subject.

899   Doctoral Dissertation   1-15 credits

May be repeated.
Original research by a Ph.D. student.

UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL (9841 and 4700)

321   Polymer Fluid Mechanics   3 credit

Prerequisite: 4600:310 or equivalent.
Rheological properties and flow characteristics of polymer fluid systems; non-Newtonion viscosity, viscoelasticity.

422   Polymer Processing   3 credits

Prerequisites: 321 and 4600:315 or equivalent.
Polymer processing technology. Basic studies of flow in extrusion, molding, and other processing methods.

425   Introduction to Blending and Compounding of Polymers   3 credits

      Prerequisites: 4200:321 or 4600:310 or permission.

525   Introduction to Blending and Compounding of Polymers   3 credits

      Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

Nature of polymer blends and compounds and their applications. Preparation and technology using batch and continuous mixers, mixing mechanisms.

427   Mold Design   3 credits

      Prerequisites: 4200:321 or 4600:310 or permission.

527   Mold Design   3 credits

      Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

Molding methods to manufacture polymeric products. Machinery, materials, molds, equipment, computer-aided design.

450   Engineering Properties of Polymers   3 credits

      Prerequisites: 4600:336 or permission.

550   Engineering Properties of Polymers   3 credits

      Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

Introduction to engineering properties and polymer processing. Analyzing mechanical polymer tests in glassy, rubbery, and fluid states. Product design, rheology, rheometry, and polymer processing concepts.

451   Polymer Engineering Laboratory   2 credits

      Prerequisite: 4200:321. Co-requisite: 422.

551   Polymer Engineering Laboratory   3 credits

      Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Laboratory experiments on the rheological characterization of polymer melts, fabrication of engineering products, structural investigation of polymer parts.

497   Honors Project   2 credits

Prerequisite: Senior standing in the Honors Program.
Individual creative project in mechanical polymer engineering, supervised by a faculty member of the department. This course must be design oriented if used in place of 4700:499.

499   Polymer Engineering Design Project   2 credits

Co-requisites: 4600:400 or permission of instructor.
Analysis and design of mechanical polymer systems.

INTERDISCIPLINARY (9821)

281   Polymer Science for Engineers   2 credits

Prerequisites: 3150:151 and 152.
Chemical bonds and structure of organic molecules, polymer chain structure, amorphous and crystalline morphology and structural characterization, polymerization and copolymerization, experimental demonstrations, typical solid-state and flow properties.

381   Polymer Morphology for Engineers   3 credits

Prerequisites: 281, 3150:151, 3650:292.
Fundamental understanding of solid structure, crystallography and morphology, processed polymers, co-polymers and their blends.

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