Polymer physics

The fundamental objective of the subject will be to familiarize the student with this type of materials in terms of their properties and applications, so important in today's world.

The learning outcomes of the Polymer Physics subject:
-To acquire skills and abilities to characterize polymers and to analyze how the molecular characteristics influence in their physical properties that make them useful as materials of very different applications.
-Students must apply the Physics’s knowledge, acquired in Thermodynamics, Mechanics, and Statistical Physics, in the field of Polymer Physics, including a
1) simulate the geometry and energy of the macromolecules
2) the entropic elasticity, it has no other material
3) the behaviors associated with the glass transition, the delayed response to an elastic or inelastic and viscoelasticity
Students must master the concepts of memory materials and time-temperature superposition that have great importance both from a fundamental point of view as applied.

Basics of polymer science. Basic definitions. Molecular architecture. Classification and nomenclature. Polymerization. Molecular weights: measurement, distribution and determination. Conformation of the polymer chain. Dimensions features. Structure of the macromolecules. Fundamental conformations. Models for calculating the average end-to-end distance. Long-range interactions. Ising chain. Thermodynamics and Statistical physics of polymer solutions. Conditions of stability of the solutions. Lattice Flory-Huggins model.
Mechanical behavior of polymeric materials. Glass transition. Crystallinity. Plasticity. Amorphous polymers. Rubber elasticity. Thermoelastic and thermodynamic behavior of elastomers: energy elastic and entropic forces. Statistical mechanical models of rubber elasticity. Swelling. Viscoelasticity of polymers. Mechanical models of viscoelasticity. Boltzmann Superposition Principle. Frequency dependence of the viscoelastic behavior Overlay temperature-time.

BOYD, R.H.; PHILIPS, P.J. The Science of Polymer Molecules. Cambridge University Press, 1996.
BOWER, D. I. An Introduction to Polymer Physics. Cambridge University Press, 2002.
CLEGG, D.W., COLLYER, A.A. The Structure and Properties of Polymer Materials. The Institute of Materials, London, 1993.
DOI, M. Introduction to Polymer Physics. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1996.
EISELE, U. Introduction to Polymer Physics. Springer, 2011.
GEDDE, U. W. Polymer Physics. Chapman & Hall, London, 1995.
MARK, J.E.et al. Physical Properties of Polymers, Cambridge University Press, 3rd Ed. 2004.
SPERLING, L.H. Introduction to Physical Polymer Science. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2005.
STROBL, G. The Physics of Polymers. Springer, Berlin, 2010.
YOUNG, R. J.; LOVELL, P. A. Introduction to Polymers. 3rd Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2011.
KATIME, I.A.; CESTEROS, C. Química Física macromolecular (Tomos I y II). Ed. Universidad del Pais Vasco. 2002.
KATIME, I. A.; KATIME, O.; KATIME, D. Introducción a la ciencia de los materiales polímeros. Síntesis y caracterización Ed. Universidad del Pais Vasco. 2010.

BASIC
CB6 - Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and / or application of ideas, often in a research context
CB7 - Knowledge about how to apply the knowledge acquired and their ability to solve problems in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study
CB8 - Ability to integrate knowledge and face the complexity of making judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments
CB9 - Ability to communicate conclusions and the knowledge and ultimate reasons that sustain them to specialized and non-specialized audiences in a clear and unambiguous way
CB10 - Learning skills allowing to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.

GENERAL
CG01 - Acquire the ability to perform team research work.
CG02 - Be able to analyze and synthesize.
CG03 - Acquire the ability to write texts, articles or scientific reports according to publication standards.
CG04 - Become familiar with the different modalities used to disseminate results and disseminate knowledge in scientific meetings.
CG05 - Apply knowledge to solve complex problems.

TRANSVERSAL
CT01 - Ability to interpret texts, documentation, reports and academic articles in English, scientific language par excellence.
CT02 - Develop the capacity to make responsible decisions in complex and / or responsible situations.

SPECIFIC
CE09 - To dominate the set of tools necessary to analyze the different states in which matter can occur.
CE10 - Understand and assimilate both fundamental and more applied aspects of the Physics of light and radiation.

A course will be activated in the Moodle platform of the Virtual Campus, which will contain information of interest for the student and different teaching materials.
The course will take place in hours of master class, using all media of which can be available and make the subject enjoyable and training for the student. Simulation practices polymer chains are made. The student will have all necessary for the study of the subject and for the conduct of laboratory practice material.

The evaluation of the subject is composed of a combination of:

Attendance at lectures and participation 25 %
Performing works and/or exercises 50 %
Oral presentation and defense of works 25 %
Exceptionally, a final exam may be done 100 %

In cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the following will apply to the provisions of the "Regulations for evaluating students' academic performance and reviewing grades":

"Article 16. Fraudulent performance of exercises or tests.

The fraudulent performance of any exercise or test required in the evaluation of a subject will imply the qualification of failed in the corresponding call, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be followed against the offending student. It is considered fraudulent, among other things, the realization of plagiarized works or obtained from sources accessible to the public without re-elaboration or reinterpretation and without citations to the authors and the sources ”.

As Degree in Physics memory reflects, based on personal work, the number of estimated hours for study and work is 75, the distribution is as follows:

- Work in the Classroom Hours:
Teaching to large classes (expository): 20 hours
Teaching to small classes (interactive): 6 hours
Programming/experiments or other work on computer/laboratory: 4 hours
Tutorials: 1 hour

- Personal work of the student and other non-presential tasks: 44 hours

It recommends a continued study since the first lecture, the use of mentoring as a means of clarifying concepts and especially as a guide to learning orientation and abundant use of bibliographic material to consolidate and expand the material supplied class.