Course10310713960 lectures
Introduction to Polymer Physics
Prof. Prateek Kumar Jha · IIT Roorkee
About
This course is an introduction to the physics of polymers, designed for senior undergraduate and postgraduate students. We will discuss statistical-mechanical, thermodynamic, and continuum theories for the structure, dynamics, and rheology of polymeric materials. Emphasis will be on developing a conceptual understanding of the theoretical and simulation methods employed in the study of polymers, and their application to specific systems. This course can be of potential interest to students studying in various disciplines including polymer science, chemical engineering, physics, chemistry, and materials science.
Intended audience: For undergraduate/postgraduate students in Polymer Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Chemistry.
Prerequisites: Following courses are desired but not mandatory: Undergraduate courses in computer programming, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics/solid mechanics/continuum mechanics, and engineering mathematics/calculus.
Lectures
Week 1
- Introduction to the course, Macromolecules and Life, Molecular flexibility
- Classification of polymers, Types of polymerization, Average molecular weights and polydispersity
- Motivation to study polymer physics
- Random Walk Models of Single Chain I: end-to-end distance of a polymer chain, freely jointed chain, “drunkard walk”
- Random Walk Models of Single Chain II: general random walk on a lattice
Week 2
- Random Walk Models of Single Chain III: Freely rotating chain, definition of persistence length
- Models of semiflexible chains (Kratky Porod Model): Part I
- Models of semiflexible chains (Kratky Porod Model): Part II
- Probability density of an ideal chain: Part I
- Probability density of an ideal chain: Part II
Week 3
- Entropic Elasticity, Bead-Spring Model, Simulations of random walk models
- Derivation of Diffusion equation, Einstein notation
- Definition of Radius of gyration
- Radius of gyration for an ideal chain, concept of ideality
- Nonbonded interactions, hydrophobic and hydrophilic behaviour
Week 4
- Definition of excluded volume; good, bad, and theta solvent
- Virial expansion, Flory theory for good solvent
- Flory theory for bad solvent, self-similarity and fractal nature of polymers
- Derivation of fractal dimension, concentration regimes and overlap concentration
- Size, shape, and structure. Gyration tensor and measures of asphericity.
Week 5
- Order-disorder transition
- Scattering experiments, Pair correlation function
- Structure of polymer chain, Introduction to Monte Carlo simulations of polymer chains
- Monte Carlo algorithm: Detailed Balance, Metropolis algorithm
- Practical aspects of Monte Carlo simulation
Week 6
- Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Review of Thermodynamics
- Solution Thermodynamics-I
- Solution Thermodynamics-II
- Solution Thermodynamics-III
- Solution Thermodynamics-IV
Week 7
- Phase separation regime, Introduction to lattice model of solutions
- Lattice Model of Solutions-I
- Lattice Model of Solutions-II
- Phase behaviour of liquid solutions
- Lattice models of polymeric systems
Week 8
- Brownian motion – I
- Brownian motion - II
- Brownian motion – III
- Brownian motion – IV
- Brownian motion – V
Week 9
- Rouse Model- I
- Rouse Model-II
- Rouse Model-III
- Rouse Model: IV
- Problems in Rouse Model, Hydrodynamic Interactions
Week 10
- Zimm Model-I
- Zimm Model-II
- Continuum Mechanics-I
- Continuum Mechanics-II
- Kuhn’s Theory of Rubber Elasticity
Week 11
- Elasticity of polymer network
- Microscopic definition of stress tensor-I
- Microscopic definition of stress tensor-II, Dumbbell model, introduction to Rouse model
- Models for entangled polymeric systems-I
- Models for entangled polymeric systems-II
Week 12
Syllabus and materials
At NPTEL, as the course publishes them.
Credits and licence
- Institution
- IIT Roorkee
- Department
- Chemical Engineering
- Teacher
- Prof. Prateek Kumar Jha
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Language
- English
- Subjects
- Chemistry, Engineering
- Source
- NPTEL
- Licence
- CC BY-NC-SA, as NPTEL states it. Non-commercial use only. NPTEL's terms
- Attribution
- NPTEL states: "Distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike / CC BY - NC - SA", beside a BY-NC-SA badge.
- Who can watch
- NPTEL gives no rating. Invisible Network shows it to Tweens profiles and older, judged from what the source says about it. How courses are placed