Professor: Greg Beaucage
beaucag@uc.edu
556-3063(Office)/-5152 (Lab)/-9305(Lab)
492 Rhodes/410 Rhodes

Textbook:

1. "The Physics of Polymers, 3'nd Ed., Concepts for Understanding Their Structure and Behavior", G. Strobl, Springer Press 1997/2007.
2. "Introduction to Polymer Physics" M. Doi, Clarendon Press 1996.
3. Class Notes Posted on the Web at:
   http://www.eng.uc.edu/~gbeaucag/BeaucageResearchGroup.html
4. "Scaling concepts in polymer physics" P. G. de Gennes, Cornell University Press 1979.
5. "The theory of polymer dynamics" Doi/Edwards, Oxford University Press, 1986.
6. "Principles of polymer chemistry." P. J. Flory, Cornell University Press 1953 (Available in reprint).
7. "Polymer Chemistry, The Basic Concepts", Paul C. Hiemenz, Marcel Dekker 1984/2005.

Level: Graduate (Undergraduate Elective)

Synopsis of Course: This course is aimed at equipping students with a basic level of knowledge of the terminology and mathematics involved in the physical understanding of polymers. Most of the topics deal with post 1970 concepts involving the statics and dynamics of polymeric materials. The course is intended for graduate students who would like to gain an understanding of modern approaches to polymer physics (statics). The course will closely follow the recent books of Strobl and Doi as well as Flory's seminal text. Doi's intent is similar to that of this course, "...to present a framework to graduate students in a concise and self-contained manner..." The prerequisite is "...a knowledge of undergraduate-level statistical mechanics..." as introduced in thermodynamics courses and polymer classes. Courses in polymers and thermodynamics are a necessary preparation for the course. The syllabus follows Strobl's Chapters 1-3 the Appendix on RPA and Scattering and Chapters 8 & 9 as well as Doi's 5 chapters.

This course is designed as a required graduate course but undergraduates and graduate students outside of Chemical and Materials Engineering often take this class. For undergraduates a letter grade boost is given (and A is an 80 or higher for undergraduates) and for non-CME majors who take this course as an elective some informal grading concessions are usually made on a case-by-case basis. Generally this course involves a significant amount of work compared to other classes.

1. Properties of an isolated polymer molecule.
   (Chapter1.html)
   
   1. Ideal chain
   2. Segmental distribution
   3. Non-ideal chains
   4. Scaling laws
2. Concentrated solutions and melts
   (Chapter2.html)
   
   1. Thermodynamics of polymer solutions
   2. Concentration fluctuations in polymer solutions
   3. Expaned coil and osmotic pressure
   4. Blends
   5. Block copolymers
3. Rubber elasticity
   (Chapter3.html)
   
   1. Elasticity
   2. The stress optical law
   3. Interactions between partial chains
   4. Swelling of gels
4. Molecular motion of polymers in dilute solution.
   (Chapter4.html)
   
   1. Brownian motion
   2. Bead-spring model (Rouse Model)
   3. Dynamic light scattering
   4. Hydrodynamic interactions
5. Molecular motion in entangled polymer systems.
   (Chapter5.html)
   
   1. Dynamics of concentration fluctuations
   2. Reptation
   3. Viscoelasticity of polymers
   4. Lodge Liquid

Quizzes (Equal Weight)
10 Weekly Quizzes
End of each Monday class (or every 3'rd lecture), 5 problems
20 minutes

Comprehensive Final Exam
p.m
During Finals Week. (worth 3 Quizzes)

Final Grade will be a letter grade (no + -'s used):
A = 90.0 to 100; B = 80.0 to 89.9; C = 70.0 to 79.9
Final Grade is the mean of all quizzes and the comprehensive final weighted at 3 quizzes.

Options to Make-up Low Quiz Grades:

Students can replace quiz grades with optional projects that will be assigned during the quarter such as computer programs, detailed calculations, formulation of models for special situations.  These optional projects are homework assignments intended to reinforce the course material.  Optional projects will be assigned with a due date for those desiring to replace a quiz grade.  (2 weeks from the date of assignment unless otherwise noted and all critical reviews and other work must be turned in by the last Wednesday of classes, Wednesday March 11 at 5 pm in 492 Rhodes).

Students can replace their quiz grades with a critical review of a published paper dealing with one of the topics covered in the class (replace up to 3 quiz grades per review) . The review must comment on the scientific validity of the work and the merit of the paper for publication, i.e. comment on what was added to the scientific literature by the paper, problems with the data and interpretation, suggest better measurements or approaches and the like. The review must include a copy of the paper and copies of relevant literature cited in the review. Students are expected to search the literature for contradictory data and theories. The review will be between 1 and 4 pages single spaced using 12 point font and 1 inch margins. Instructions for the critical review are given on the course web page but generally the critical review will follow the following format:

1) Summary of the author's intent and conclusions. (1 paragraph)
2) Point by point discussion of problems with the paper usually numbered.
3) Summary of the rejection (1 paragraph)
4) Statement of fate for the paper: "This manuscript should not be published because ..."

You should completely reject the chosen paper so you need to find a paper you disagree with pertaining to polymer physics and the topics covered in this course.