2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Materials and Chemical Technology Undergraduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
Polymer Characterization
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Chemical Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Masatoshi Tokita / Shoichi Kubo
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Thu (S2-202(S223))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CAP.Y306
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Sep 12, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course provides the basic principles and techniques for measuring the properties of polymer compounds. The covered methods are polarized optical microscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, mechanical testing, infrared spectroscopy, and molecular weight measurements.
The course is designed to help students develop the ability to select and apply the most appropriate methods for determining the molecular structure and assembly structure of polymers, and to understand how the unique structures and properties of polymers influence these results.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to
1) Understand Infrared spectroscopy and interpret the spectrum.
2) Understand the basics of methods for analyzing molecular weights.
3) Explain the basis of thermal analysis, mechanical testing, and X-ray diffraction, and understand measurement results.
Keywords
Spectroscopic Analysis, Spectrum, Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermal Analysis, X-ray Diffraction, Mechanical Testing, Molecular Weight Analysis
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The lecture contents are explained. Exercises are given to enhance students' thorough understanding.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Solid Structures of Polymers |
Explain the relationship between the hierarchical structure of crystalline polymers and the analytical methods covered in this course. |
| Class 2 | Thermal Analysis (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, etc.) (Masatoshi Tokita) |
Explain what thermal analysis is and give some examples applied to polymer materials. |
| Class 3 | X-ray diffraction (Masatoshi Tokita) |
Explain the diffraction condition (Bragg's equation) in terms of the interference of X-rays scattered by atoms in a crystal. |
| Class 4 | Mechanical Testing (Tensile Test, Rheometry） |
Explain the mechanical properties, which are the fundamental physical characteristics of materials. |
| Class 5 | Fundamentals of Spectroscopy, UV/Visible Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopy. (Shoichi Kubo) |
Explain fundamentals of spectroscopic analyses and UV/visible absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy |
| Class 6 | Infrared Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy. (Shoichi Kubo) |
Explain fundamentals of infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. |
| Class 7 | Molecular Weight Analysis: Size Exclusion Chromatography and other methods. (Shoichi Kubo) |
Explain measurement principles and methods. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
Students are encouraged to prepare for class by glancing at the course materials and by researching unknown terms in the textbook or materials of the related courses.
Textbook(s)
Not specified.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
The course materials will be provided through LMS.
Evaluation methods and criteria
The grade will be determined by the scores on the exercises and assignments in each class.
Related courses
- CAP.Y204： Polymer Physics I (Polymer Solutions)
- CAP.Y205 ： Polymer Physics II (Solid Structures)
- CAP.Y302 ： Polymer Rheology
- CAP.Y304 ： Polymer Physical Properties
- CAP.F304 ： Chemical Science and Engineering Laboratory Ⅳ
Prerequisites
Students are desirable to have enrolled in the courses related to quantum chemistry, physical chemistry, and polymer science (structures and physical properties).