KF2200 Physical Polymer and Cellulose Chemistry 7.5 credits

• Educational level

  Second cycle

• Academic level (A-D)

  C

• Subject area

• Grade scale

  A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• Course page on KTH Social

Learning outcomes

After the course the student should know:

• Molecular basis for properties of polymers and wood fibres.
• The connection between the properties of the smallest building stones in polymers and wood fibres and the properties of products made of polymers and wood fibres.
• How different transport processes in fibres and polymers are connected to the physical and chemical structure of fibres and polymers.
• Surface chemistry and surface physics of polymers and fibres, also how these are determined experimentally.
• How to change the properties of polymers and fibres by chemical and physical modification
• How to use chemical specialist literature.

Course main content

1. Chain conformation of macromolecules: stereo forms of small molecules by torsion around sigma bond and energy analysis, statistical weight matrix, important statistical conditions of macromolecules, theta condition, chain with excluded volume, collapsed conditions, chain with preferable conformation (crystal form), random-walk analysis.

2. Elasticity of macromolecular networks: rubber elasticity theory, classical and modern development trends, gels including hydrogels and polyelectrolyte gels – qualitative analysis, Flory-Rehner’s theory, polyelectrolyte gels theory.

3. Polymer solutions: Flory-Huggin’s equation, solubility parameter, polyelectrolytes

4. Structure determination methods: Thermal analysis, spectroscopy , diffraction- and spread methods, microscopy, surface physical methods.

5. Surface physical properties of polymer and wood fibre materials.

6. Glassy state of polymers and fibre wall composites: kinetic aspects – phenomenology and theories (among other things the KAHR-model), theories for glass transition, influence of structure on glass temperature, application cases: fibre wall components.

7. The hierarchy of cellulose structure in the fibre wall.

8. The structure hierarchy of part crystalline polymers: single crystals, chain folding, dislocations, epitaxial growth, crystal units, over structures, crystal growth theories, connections between molecular structure and morphology, relation between melting point and structure.

9. Transport properties of polymers and wood fibre materials: basic connections for material transport, molecular theories for material transport, complex systems, application cases: wood fibre materials.

Eligibility

Admission requirements for independent students:
75 university credits (hp) in chemistry or chemical engineering, 20 university credits (hp) in mathematics and 6 university credits (hp) in computer science or corresponding. Documented proficiency in English corresponding to English B.

Admission requirements for programme students at KTH:
At least 150 credits from grades 1, 2 and 3 of which at least 110 credits from years 1 and 2, and bachelor's work must be completed, within a programme that includes:
75 university credits (hp) in chemistry or chemical engineering, 20 university credits (hp) in mathematics and 6 university credits (hp) in computer science or corresponding.

Prerequisites

KF2270 Mechanical properties of materials
KD1160 Materials chemistry

Literature

Compendium in Polymer physics and fibre technology

Examination

• TEN1 - Examination, 7.5 credits, grade scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Requirements for final grade

Examination, 7,5 credits

Offered by

CHE/Fibre and Polymer Technology

Examiner

Lars Wågberg <wagberg@kth.se>

Supplementary information

will replace 3E1326

Add-on studies

KF2130 Polymer chemistry
KF2270 Structure and properties of organic materials KF2460 Biofibre Chemistry

Version

Course plan valid from: Spring 11.
Examination information valid from: Autumn 07.