Unit 1

Structure of polymers – thermoplastic – thermoset, rubber – Linear, branched, crosslinked, and network polymers – Homochain and hetero atomic chain polymers – Copolymers – Linear and cyclic arrangement – Prediction of polymer properties, group contribution techniques, topological techniques – Volumetric properties – molar volume, density, Van der Waals volume – Coefficient of linear thermal expansion and volumetric thermal expansion – Pressure volume temperature (PVT) relationship.

Mechanical properties – Stress-strain properties of polymers – Effect of polymer structure on modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, yield strength, fracture toughness – Crazing in glassy polymers – Ductile brittle transition. Effect of additives on mechanical properties of polymers – Creep, stress relaxation, and fatigue.

Unit 2

Thermodynamic and transition properties – Transition temperature in polymers, glass transition (Tg), melt transition (Tm), relationship between Tg and Tm – other transitions like ß-transitions, upper and lower glass transition temperatures – Prediction of Tg and Tm of polymers by group contributions.Calorimetric properties – Heat capacity, specific heat, latent heat of crystallization and fusion, enthalpy and entropy – Calculation of heat capacities of polymers.

Electrical and optical properties – Effect of polymer structure on dielectric constant, power factor, dissipation factor, and loss factor – effect of frequency of voltage and temperature on dielectric properties – Prediction of molar polarization and effective dipole moment. Effect of additives on electrical properties of polymers.

Unit 3

1. J. A. Brydson, “Plastics Materials” Butterworth- Heinemann – Oxford, 7th Ed., London, 1999
2. Maurice Morton, “Rubber Technology”, 3rd Ed, Kluwer Academic Pub, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 1999
3. Manas Chanda and Salil K. Roy, “Plastics Technology Handbook”, CRC Press, Atlanta, 2007

• D. W. Van Krevelen and P. J. Hoftyzen, “Properties of Polymer”, 3rd Edition Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company Amsterdam – Oxford – Newyork. 1990.
• Jozef.Bicerano, “Prediction of Polymer Properties”, Second Edition, Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, 1995.