CHEM 313 Polymers and Materials (Not offered 1998-99)

Materials science is a very broad term which describes the study of bulk physical properties of substances, such as hardness, electrical conductivity, optical properties, and elasticity. Materials chemists bridge the gap between traditional synthetic chemists and materials scientists, by working to understand the relationships between bulk physical properties and molecular structure. Many areas of chemistry are grouped under the heading of materials chemistry including polymer chemistry, solid state chemistry, liquid crystals, conducting polymers, superconductors, and buckyballs. Materials science holds the promise for the design of new technologies and devices; in this course, we examine some of the latest developments in materials chemistry, as well as some potential applications of emerging technologies. We focus on the chemistry involved in the synthesis of various polymers and materials with an emphasis on structure-property relationships and methods of characterization. Evaluation is based on weekly problem sets, reviews of research articles, one hour exam, and a final. Prerequisites: Chemistry 201-202.