Undergraduate Experiments In Polymer Science

这个项目包括了一门本科生的聚合物实验课程的形成。获得的仪器用于现有的本科实验室课程，用于额外的实验。这两台仪器是：用于测定聚合物分子量分布的尺寸排除层析装置；以及用于表征材料的流变性的扭转流变仪。该项目还包括建造受控环境的手套箱，以运行聚合物合成反应。指导学生完成合成、表征和制造这三个基本阶段。形成了几个小组，每个小组负责生产和表征给定分子量的样品。表征包括测量聚合物的分子量分布和力矩，研究材料的热流变行为，并建立两者之间的关联。来自不同组的样品被混合以获得预定的特性，并最终在挤出、模塑或旋涂等模型操作中进行处理。通过允许学生使用上述仪器进行实验，学生们对与材料属性相关的因果关系产生了一种自然的感觉。选择这些仪器是为了最大限度地减少操作员培训时间，同时在通用性、复杂性和成本方面实现最有利的折衷。

This project involves the formation of an undergraduate polymer laboratory course. The instruments acquired are used in an existing undergraduate laboratory course, for additional experiments. The two instruments are: a Size Exclusion Chromatography unit to determine polymer molecular weight distribution; and a Torsional Rheometer to characterize the rheological behavior of the material. The project also involves the construction of controlled-environment glove boxes to run polymer synthesis reactions. Students are guided through the three basic stages of synthesis, characterization, and fabrication. Several groups are formed, each with the responsibility of producing and characterizing a sample of given molecular weight. The characterization involves measurement of the polymer's molecular weight distribution and its moments, study of the thermo-rheological behavior of the material, and establishment of a correlation between the two. Samples from different groups are blended to achieve predetermined characteristics and finally processed in model operations such as extrusion, molding, or spin coating. By being allowed to experiment with the above instruments, the students develop a natural feeling for cause-and-effect relations associated with material properties. The instruments have been selected to minimize operator-training times, while achieving a most favorable compromise in terms of versatility, sophistication, and cost.