2021 Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Undergraduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Polymer Physics IV (Physical Properties)
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Hidemine Furuya / Shinji Ando
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Thu (W641)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CAP.P322
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course covers fundamentals of thermal properties (glass transition, heat transfer), electric properties (dielectric properties, piezoelectricity, electrically conductivity), optical properties, and surface properties as important charcteristics observed for assembles of polymer compounds, these fundamentals are explained in terms of thermodynamics and physical chemistry. Exercise problems of various properties are given, and the ability of understanding is developed.
Unique properties and behaviors observed for assembles of polymer molecules are utilized in polymeric materials used in various applications. Students will have an understanding of how to appear thermal, electric, opitical properties for assembles of polymer molecules and relate to their structures. And examples of application, how characteristic properties of polymers is utilized to functional materials, are also introduced.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to
1) Explain glass transition phenomenon in terms of molecular dynamics and thermodynamics.
2) Explain phase transition behavior of polymers.
3) Explain heat transfer of polymers.
4) Explain the eqaution of state and volume trasition behavior of gels.
5) Explain fundamentals and phenomenon of electric properties of polymers.
6) Explain expression mechanism of optical properties of polymers.
7) Explain fundamentals and phenomenon of surface properties.
Keywords
Phase Transition, Glass Transition, Crystallization, Dielectric Properties, Piezoelectricity, Electrically Conductive, Refractive index, Birefringence, Optical transparency, Wettability, Surface Viscoelastic, Gel
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Class is proceeded in accordance with hand-outs of the lecture slides as well as text books. At the beginning of each class, solutions to exercise problems assigned during the previous class are reviewed. Students are given assignments or problems related to what is taught on that day.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Electric Properties of polymers -Dielectric Properties, Piezoelectricity, and Electrical conduction. | Explain the fundamentals and phenomena of dielectric dispersion, piezoelectricity, ferroelectricity, and electronic conduction of polymers. |
| Class 2 | Optical Properties of polymers 1 -Molecular polarizability, Refractive Index, and Birefringence | Explain the mechanisms of refractive indices and birefringence of polymers. |
| Class 3 | Optical Properties of polymers 2 -Electronic structures, Optical transmission, and Optical functionalities | Explain the electronic structures, optical transmission, and various optical functionalities of polymers. |
| Class 4 | Thermal Properties of polymers 1 -Glass Transition, Phase transition phenomenon of solid state. | Review of thermodynamics and explain glass transition phenomenon and phase transition phenomenon of solid state for polymers. |
| Class 5 | Thermal Properties of polymers 2 -Fundamentals of heat transfer and Thermal conductivity. | Explain fundamentals of heat transfer and thermal conductivity. |
| Class 6 | Gel -Structure and properties, Equation of state, and Volume phase transition phenomenon | Explain structures of gels. Explain equation of state and volume phase transition for gels. |
| Class 7 | Surface Properties -Wettability, Surface Viscoelastic. | Explain physicochemical interpretation of wettability and surface viscoelastic properties. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class. They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course materials.
Textbook(s)
Society of Polymer Science, Japan eds. Kisokoubunnshikagak, A part of Chap. 4 Sec. 4, Chap.4 Sec. 5, Chap. 5 Sec. 2 to Sec.5, Tokyo Kagaku Dojin, ISBN4-8079-0635-6, and materials are provided during class. Society of Polymer Science, Japan eds. Kisokoubunnshikagak, Second ed. Chap. 8.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Chihara, Hideaki. Nakamura, Norio. Trans. P. Atkins, J. de Pauls, "Physical Chemistry", Eight Ed. Tokyo Kagaku Doujin, ISBN978-4-8079-0696-3 (in Japanese) .
Kitano, Hiromi. Kunugi, Shigeru. Eds. Chemistry of Polymers, Sankyo Syupan, ISBN978-4-7827-0544-5 (in Japanese).
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students' knowledge for fundamentals of thermal, electric, optical properties for polymer materials will be assessed.
Assignment:60%, Final exam:30%, Attendance:10%.
Related courses
- CAP.P201 ： Polymer Science
- CAP.P221 ： Polymer Physics I (Polymer Solutions)
- CAP.P222 ： Polymer Physics II (Solid Structures)
- CAP.P321 ： Polymer Physics III (Rheology)
- CAP.P341 ： Polymer Characterization
Prerequisites
No prerequisites are necessary, but enrollment in courses related to polymer science is desirable.