Polymer morphological characterization techniques
Summary
Sample preparation and direct observation techniques (optical microscopy, AFM, electron microscopy) and their practical application to the study of morphology and microdeformation in polymers.
Content
INTRODUCTION
- Overview of polymer structures
- Importance of polymer morphology in practice
METHODS
- sample preparation
- application of the different types of microscopy to polymers (OM, TEM, SEM, scanning probe microscopy ...)
- crystallographic methods, numerical simulation
APPLICATIONS
- semicrystalline polymers and liquid crystalline polymers
- supermolecular structures
- fractography and microdeformation
- nanostructures and self-organization
Keywords
Polymers, microscopy, specimen preparation
Learning Prerequisites
Recommended courses
Polymères, structures, propriétés, MSE-230, MX, Plummer
Important concepts to start the course
Basics of materials science, physics
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the various techniques
- Describe the main microscopy tehcniques and their application to polymers
- Recall the principal methods of specimen preparation for SEM/TEM
- Choose a technique for a given problem in polymer science
- Develop a rational approach to solving multiscale problems in polymer science
- Operate an optical microscope in different modes
- Apply basic optical microscopy to the study of polymers
- Assess / Evaluate the use of different microscopy techniques in the literature
Transversal skills
- Make an oral presentation.
- Summarize an article or a technical report.
Teaching methods
Ex cathedra, demonstrations
Expected student activities
Attending lectures and laboratory demonstrations, completing exercises, analysis and presentation of a scientific article from the literature
Assessment methods
Written exam after 4-5 weeks + oral presentation in group of 2 people at the end of the course.
Final grade = (2x presentation grade + 1x written exam grade) /3
Resources
Bibliography
Polymer microscopy - third edition, Sawyer, Grubb & Meyers, Springer , NY 2008
Ressources en bibliothèque
Notes/Handbook
Copies of the lecture notes
Websites
In the programs
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Polymer morphological characterization techniques
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
- Subject examined: Polymer morphological characterization techniques
- Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks