Polymer Rheology credit:

3 Hours

A molecular understanding of polymer characterization and properties is developed to provide an appreciation of the link between the physical chemistry of the microstructure and macroscopic behavior of polymer solutions and melts. Topics include polymer chain introduction, Flory-Huggins-based thermodynamics, rheological characterization (flow, deformation, linear/nonlinear viscoelasticity), dilute/networked polymer systems, and time-temperature superposition. Models describe polymeric suspensions, unentangled melts, entanglements, and the reptation model. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Prerequisite: Restricted to undergraduates.