Standardized Syllabus for the College of Engineering
EMA 6461 Polymer Characterization
1. Catalog Description – Credits: 3 Grading Scheme: Letter
-Use of a broad variety of spectroscopic and other scattering phenomena in polymer
research.
2. Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: EMA3066 or equivalent
3. Course Objectives:
This course will provide an overview of the common techniques for determining the
structure and characteristics of polymeric materials. The goals of the course are as
follows: 1) to equip the student with the knowledge necessary for deciding which
characterization technique(s) would be appropriate for determining properties of
interest; 2) to impart the student with sufficient background to enable the proper
judgment of the quality of data obtained, and the significant variables effecting the
results; 3) to enable the student to comprehend the polymer literature and make their
own judgment regarding the interpretation of data. This course will not delve into
techniques of general materials characterization except where the method differs
when applied to polymers. Instead, the methods studied will typically be aimed at
determining the polymer’s size and molecular weight/distribution, primary structure
of the backbone, nature of the chemical bonding environments, crystallinity,
thermo/mechanical behavior, secondary conformations, tertiary morphology, surface
or interfacial characteristics, etc..
4. Contribution of course to meeting the professional component (ABET only –
undergraduate courses) NA
5. Relationship of course to program outcomes: Skills student will develop in this course
(ABET only undergraduate courses) NA
6. Instructor: Laurie Gower
a. Office location: 210A Rhines Hall
b. Telephone: 846-3336
c. E-mail address: lgowe@mse.ufl.edu
d. Class Web site: Sakai
e. Office hours: TBD
7. Teaching Assistant: Not applicable
8. Meeting Times: M,W,F: 5th period (11:45am to 12:35am)
9. Class/laboratory schedule: not applicable
10. Meeting Location: CSE E122
11. Material and Supply Fees: Not applicable
12. Textbooks and Software Required
a. Title: Polymer Characterization- Physical Techniques
b. Author: D. Campbell, R.A. Pethrick, J.R. White
c. Publication date and edition: 2000, 2nd Edition
d. ISBN number: 0-748740058
13. Recommended Reading (see 12 above): In addition, supplementary reading from
various sources will be posted on Sakai website
14. Course Outline (provide topics covered by week or by class period):
Tentative Schedule
Book
Lecture Month Date Lecture Topic
Chapter
1 Jan. M6 Class overview Chapter 1
2 W8 MW- primary methods (EGA;Colligative) Chapter 2
3 F 10 Viscometry
4 M 13 Light scattering
5 W 15 GPC/SEC
6 F 17 Other Methods (PAGE; M.S.)
M 20 Martin Luther King Holiday
7 W 23 Spectroscopy overview Chapter 3
8 F 24 UV-Vis spectroscopy Chapter 4
M 27 Review session
Evening Exam 1 (7:30 pm)
T 28
Covers MW characterization
W 29 No Class
9 F 31 Vibrational spectroscopy Chapter 5
10 Feb M3 ATR-FTIR
11 W5 IR Dichroism
12 F7 Raman
13 M 10 IR/Raman application to polymers
14 W 12 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spect. Chapter 6
15 F 14 NMR.Shielding & Splitting
16 M 17 Double resonance techniques
17 W 19 13C and other nuclei; decoupling
18 F 21 Relaxation times; pulse sequences
20 M 24 Solid-state NMR
21 W 26 2D NMR
F 28 Review session
March 1-8 Spring Break.
22 M 10 Thermal Analysis- DTA/DSC Chapter 12
Evening Exam 2 (7:30 pm)
T 11
Covers spectroscopy
W 12 No class
23 F 14 Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis
24 M 17
(DMTA)
25 W 19 Surface properties and contact angle
26 F 21 Surface chemical analysis ( XPS/ESCA) Chapter 13
27 M 24 Microscopy- Light (contrast) Chapter 11
28 W 26 Fluorescence Microscopy supplement
29 F 28 Polarized Light Microscopy
M 31 Review session
Evening Exam 3 (7:30pm)
T1
Covers Thermal and Surface Analysis
April W2 No class
30 F4 Electron microscopy: TEM Chapter 9
31 M7 Electron microscopy: SEM Chapter 10
Chapter
32 W9 Scanning probe microscopies (SPM)
13.4
33 F 11 Microscopy of polymers
Chapter 8
34 M 14 Scattering
& 11.5
35 W 16 Scattering
Chapter
36 F 18 Neutron scattering
13.5
M 21 Project- student presentations
W 23 Project- student presentations
Reading days
Final Exam: (2B: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm)
May F2
Cumulative
15. Attendance and Expectations: Attendance will not be formally monitored, but
classroom contribution to discussions will be noted and taken into consideration for
borderline grades. Therefore, you may want to notify me of any necessary absences.
Plus, for excused absences, I will provide you with my annotated lecture notes, which
highlight important concepts of that topic.
• Homework: Homework should be turned in at the beginning of class. No late
submissions will be accepted in order that solutions can be posted after class.
• Grade changes: Requests for adjustment to any grade should occur within the 2
week period following the posted grade in question, and must be approved by the
course instructor (you can discuss your concerns with the TA, but the TA can not
change grades without final approval from me).
• Policy on Cell Phones: Cell phones should be turned off or on vibrate mode
during class, with the exception of a primary care giver. If/when receiving a call,
promptly move to outside the classroom.
16. Grading – methods of evaluation
First exam- 20%
Second exam- 20%
Third Exam- 20%
Homework- 10%
Project- 10%
Final exam- 20%
17. Grading Scale: (rounded up for ≥ 0.5)
A = 90 or above C = 70-73
A- = 87-89 C- = 67-69
B+ = 84-86 D+ = 64-66
B = 80-83 D = 60-63
B- = 77-79 D- = 57-59
C+ = 74-76 E = 56 or below
“In order to graduate, graduate students must have an overall GPA and an upper-division
GPA of 3.0 or better (B or better). Note: a B- average is equivalent to a GPA of 2.67, and
therefore, it does not satisfy this graduation requirement. For more information on grades
and grading policies, please visit:
http://gradschool.ufl.edu/catalog/current-catalog/catalog-general-regulations.html#grades
18. Make-up Exam Policy: Make-up exams will be provided only with the prior approval
of the instructor for excused absences. In general, acceptable reasons for excused
absence include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements,
military obligation, court-imposed legal obligations, religious holidays and
participation in official university activities such as music performances, athletic
competition or debate.
19. Honesty Policy – UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the
members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers
to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code. On all
work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is
either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized
aid in doing this assignment.” The Honor Code
(http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/) specifies a number of
behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you
are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate
personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor or
TAs in this class.
Note that failure to comply with this commitment will result in disciplinary action
compliant with the UF Student Honor Code Procedures.
See http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/procedures/honorcode.php
20. Accommodation for Students with Disabilities – Students Requesting classroom
accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. That office will
provide the student with documentation that he/she must provide to the course
instructor when requesting accommodation.
21. UF Counseling Services –Resources are available on-campus for students having
personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals. The resources include:
· UF Counseling & Wellness Center, 3190 Radio Rd, 392-1575,
http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/Default.aspx, counseling services and mental
health services.
· Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career and job search
services.
University Police Department 392-1111
22. Software Use – All faculty, staff and student of the University are required and
expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing software use. Failure to do
so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator.
Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary
action will be taken as appropriate. We, the members of the University of Florida
community, pledge to uphold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of
honesty and integrity.
23. Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course
based on 10 criteria. These evaluations are conducted online at
https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three
weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open.
Summary results of these assessments are available to students at
https://evaluations.ufl.edu/results. “
