Mixtures and Composites

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes supported by powerpoint presentations and discussion of subjects, complemented with tutorials.

Practical classes in the laboratory for characterizing polymers, polymer blends, mixtures and polymeric composite systems.

All classes have a theoretical and practical nature based simultaneously on: 1) Explanation and discussion of concepts by lecturers and students; 2) Experimental work to enable students to use the different items of equipment available to resolve problems posed, involving the observation and characterization of the physicalmechanical behaviour of polymers, polymer blends, mixtures and polymeric composite systems.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: a) Interpret the physical and mechanical characterization of polymers, polymer blends, mixtures and polymeric composite systems relating them with their physical and chemical characteristics, anticipating the implications with respect to the prediction of their behaviour in service; b) Design polymer blends and mixtures with respect to their specific commercial value; c) Identify polymeric composite systems, particularly their anisotropic characteristics and the ease of adjustment of their properties to the application. The evaluation of the entrepreneurial and social contexts of the transformation methods studied is given particular emphasis, especially with respect to their economic and environmental sustainability.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Mechanical properties of solid polymers

Viscoelasticity

Viscoplasticity

2. Mixtures

Additives (fillers, plasticizers, colourants, pigments, foaming agents, cross-linking agents)

3. Polymer blends

Types of blend: homologous, miscible, immiscible, compatible, polymer alloys

Methods of preparing polymer blends

Criteria for designing polymer blends

Recycling of polymer blends

4. Composite systems

Constituents and semi-products

Transformation Processes

Mechanical behaviour and its prediction

Design.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
1 Exam : 30.0%
1 Assignment: 70.0%

Bibliography

- Rodriguez, Ferdinand, Cohen, C., Ober, C. & Archer, L. (2015). Principles of polymer systems, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.

- Sperling, L.H. (2006). Introduction to Physical Polymer Science. New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons.

- Lucas da Silva, Jorge Lino Alves & António Torres Marques (2013). Materiais de Construção. Porto: Publindústria, Edições Técnicas.

- Ehrenstein, Gottfried W. (2001); Polymeric materials. Cincinnati: Hanser Gardner Publications.

- Gay, Daniel (2007). Composite Materials: Design and Applications. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.

- Ashby, Michael F. (2011). Materials selection in Mechanical Design. Burlington: Butterworth-Heinemann.

- Sabu, Thomas, Ponnamma, D., Zachariah, A. (2013). Advances in Materials Science book series, Volume 1. Toronto : Apple Academic Press.

- Caroline Baillie (2004). Green composites: polymer composites and the environment. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.