2020 Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
Soft Materials
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Materials Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Junko Morikawa / Kotaro Satoh
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - at Tsinghua Univ. (Zoom)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- MAT.P483
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 3-4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is for students in Tokyo Tech-Tsinghua University joint graduate program. The course is held at Tsinghua University in Beijing and mainly deals with the fundamental concepts of soft materials. Since the instructors and the topics change every year, the course contents will be revised every year. This year, the course will be divided into two: the former half will deal with thermophysical properties of soft materials and the latter half will be plastics in our daily life and their relationship with our environmental issues.
Course description and aims
At the end of the course, students will acquire the following abilities:
1) Students will gain an understanding of the thermophysical properties of soft materials, methodology for measuring the thermohysical properties, and the related materials informatics.
2) Students will understand how the polymer material is produced and used in the daily life and how it will affect our environments.
Keywords
Thermal conductivity, Thermal diffusivity, Thermal analysis, Materials informatics, Polymer Synthesis, Plastics, Environmental issues
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course will proceed in the following order: (1) thermophysical properties of soft materials, (2) plastics in our daily life and their relationship with our environmental issues.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Thermophysical properties of soft materials (1) | Explain the general concept of thermophysical properties of soft materials |
| Class 2 | Thermophysical properties of soft materials (2) | Explain the general concept of thermophysical properties of soft materials |
| Class 3 | Methodology for measuring the thermophysical properties of soft materials (1) | Explain the methodology for measuring the thermophysical properties of soft materials |
| Class 4 | Methodology for measuring the thermophysical properties of soft materials (2) | Explain the methodology for measuring the thermophysical properties of soft materials |
| Class 5 | Thermal analysis of softmaterials (1) | Explain the Thermal analysis of softmaterials |
| Class 6 | Thermal analysis of softmaterials (2) | Explain the Thermal analysis of softmaterials |
| Class 7 | Materials informatics for the thermophysical properties of soft materials | Explain the general background of the Materials informatics for the thermophysical properties of soft materials |
| Class 8 | Plastics in Our Daily Life | Explain the plastics in our daily life |
| Class 9 | Relationship between Polymer Synthesis and Organic Chemistry | Explain the relationship between polymer synthesis and organic chemistry |
| Class 10 | How to Produce Polymers in Industry | Explain how to produce polymers in industry |
| Class 11 | Environmental Issues Relating to Polymers | Explain environmental issues relating to polymers |
| Class 12 | Bio-Degradable Polymer | Explain bio-degradable polymer |
| Class 13 | Bio-Based Polymer | Explain bio-based polymer |
| Class 14 | Polymer Recycling | Explain polymer recycling |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Non required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Materials used in class can be found on OCW-i.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Practice problems and interpretation for confirming the level of understanding (90%), level of class participation (10%) (The level of class participation will be evaluated by discussion, brief examination in the lecture.)
Related courses
- CAP.P421 ： Special Lecture on Characterization of Polymer Structures and Properties
- CAP.P422 ： Advanced Polymer Properties
- CAP.P432 ： Elements of Polymer Science II
- MAT.P426 ： Thermal Properties of Materials
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment in the related courses is desirable.