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PHY-30010 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

PHY-30010 - Polymer Physics
Coordinator: Arumugam Mahendrasingam Room: LJ1.04 Tel: +44 1782 7 33312
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Successful completion of FHEQ Level 5 Physics/Astrophysics undergraduate programme

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

This module will explore the relationship between structure and property in natural polymer materials (e.g., DNA, rubber, cellulose) and synthetic polymer materials used in industrial and pharmaceutical applications (e.g., PVC, nylon, chocolate, and many medicines) using various experimental, computational and analytical techniques. Further, structural development in polymer materials during the industrial processing polymer materials will be explored using time-resolved x-ray diffraction techniques with few milliseconds resolution.

Aims
This module aims to develop an understanding of structure property relationships in polymer materials and the application of physical techniques to investigate the macrostructure, microstructure and mechanical properties of polymer materials.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Explain and discuss the structure of polymer molecules and the application of physical characterisation techniques: 1,2
Explain and discuss crystallinity and molecular orientation in polymer materials; application of physical techniques to determine the crystallinity and molecular orientation in polymer materials: 1,2
Explain and discuss macrostructure in polymer materials; application of small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques to probe macrostructure in polymer materials: 1,2
Explain and discuss application of wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS) techniques to probe microstructure in polymer materials: 1,2
Explain and discuss mechanical properties of polymer materials and their yield behaviour: 1,2

Study hours

Active learning hours:
24 hours lectures
6 hours tutorials
Independent study:
20 hours of work on problems sheets
98 hours directed reading/private study,
2 hour examination

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Problem Sheets weighted 20%
4 PROBLEM SHEETS
Four problem sheets which includes analytical, computational and numerical problems from the module content.

2: Unseen Exam weighted 80%
Unseen Examination
2-hour unseen exam - students should answer 3 questions out of 5.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024