Polymers and Composites from Renewable Resources

Year
1

Academic year
2019-2020

Code
03018315

Subject Area
Chemical Engineering

Language of Instruction
Portuguese

Other Languages of Instruction
English

Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face

Duration
SEMESTRIAL

ECTS Credits
6.0

Type
Elective

Level
3rd Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The modules of this course will be adjusted individually to the individual student’s plan to avoid repetition of contents and instead deepen his/her skills. The contents will be presented in an interactive way, or as talks given by guest experts. When possible demonstrations and field trips will be included. The study case will be developed and guided continuously over the course on a topic related to the plan of work of students. Lectures supporting materials will be made available via the e-learning platform at UA and UC.

Learning Outcomes

This course aims at providing a solid background in the field of polymers and composites from renewable resources with particular emphasis on natural polymers chemistry and diversity, corresponding typologies and methodologies of preparation and characterization of composite materials. At the end of this course the student should be able to:
Identify the main families of natural polymers and correlate their structure with properties and potential application
Select the foremost chemical/physical modification strategies of natural polymers
Identify the distinct types of composite materials and related this knowledge with the structure and properties of natural polymers and other components
Explain the fundaments of the various methodologies of preparation/production and processing of composites and be able to critically select them
Identify the diverse characterization techniques of these materials
Use simple models to predict materials properties
Evaluate natural materials end life

Work Placement(s)

Syllabus

1-Natural polymers and their modification, distinct families of biopolymers (polysaccharides, in particular nanocellulose, proteins, lignin, etc.), structure vs properties relation, strategies for chemical/physical modification

2-(Nano)composites; mixtures and composites: polymer based composites; reinforcement/filling and/or functionality; mixtures principle; anisotropy; applications

3-Principal methodologies of preparation of composite materials; mixing; in situ synthesis of fillers (inorganic); modification/in situ synthesis of the polymeric matrix

4-Principal methods of production and processing of composites; extrusion/injection; lamination/calendaring; spinning/electrospinning, casting, surface modification/finishing; foaming;

5-Characterization methods applied to polymers and composites

6-Fundaments on properties modelling: familiarization with tools used to predict materials properties

7-Biodegradation

Head Lecturer(s)

Mara Elga Medeiros Braga

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Resolution Problems: 20.0%
Report of a seminar or field trip: 20.0%
Research work: 60.0%

Bibliography

-Monomers, Polymers and Composites from Renewable Resources, M. N. Belgacem and A. Gandini, Eds, Elsevier, UK, 2008.

-Biodegradable Polymers for Industrial Application, Ray Smith, Ed., CRC Press, USA, 2005.

-Nanocellulose Polymer Nanocomposites: From Fundamental to Applications", V. K. Thakur (Ed.), Wiley –Scrivener, 2014. (in particular chapter 2)

-Characterization Techniques for Polymer Nanocomposites, Vikas Mittal (Ed.), Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KgaA, 2012.

- Handbook of Materials Structures, Properties, Processing and Performance. Murr, Lawrence E. (Ed), 2015, Springer, ISBN 978-3-319-01814-0

- Finite Element Modelling of Composite Materials and Structures, 1st edition, F L Mathews, GA O Davies, D Hitchings, C Soutis, Woodhead Publishing Limited, Sheffield, 2000