Textbooks: Contemporary Polymer Chemistry, 2nd Ed. H.R.Allcock & F.W.Lampe

Other books on polymer chemistry and physics may be useful, in particular the books by Hiemenz, by Sperling and by Odian.

Grading:

Mid-term	150 points
Final	150 points
Paper or Presentation	50 points
total	350 points

This course provides a survey of the fundamentals of polymer science. The grade will be based on a mid-term and a final. The final may be comprehensive. No make-up exams will be given: if circumstances require missing the mid-term, prior arrangments must be made with the instructor.

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Anyone found cheating on an exam will be given a zero for that exam. With only two exams, a second infraction will necessarily result in a failing grade.

1. Introduction: Important Concepts for Studies of Macromolecules (Chapter 1, A & L)

Definitions, descriptive categorization, properties

2. Synthesis and Reactions of Polymers (Chapters 2 - 9, A & L)

Condensation polymers, addition polymers, ring opening polymers, inorganic and biological polymers, polymer reactions

3. Physics and Characterization of Polymers (Chapters 10 - 18, A & L)

Thermodynamics, equilibria, and kinetics of polymerization, molecular weight effects, solution properties, thermal properties, conformation and stereochemistry

4. New Topics in Polymer Science

Biomedical polymers, conducting polymers, interpenetrating networks, liquid crystalline polymers, novel polymer architectures, polymer photochemistry