MatSE443 (previously PLMSE 406):
Introduction to the Materials Science of Polymers
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All paragraph and pages numbers refer to the primary text (Painter & Coleman) Study Guide (chapter 10)
Read Carefully before Studying through the chapter
For this chapter, you need not know most of the mathematics,
any of the equations, and the derivations thereof. What you need to take
away from this chapter are the following concepts:
Concepts that you must know:
Methods for Molecular Weight Determination: relative vs.
absolute methods (definitions), principles of operation for osmometry,
light scattering, solution viscometry incl. the various definitions of
viscosity given, and SEC (GPC) including the hydrodynamic volume concept.
Virial expansion: this is the single one equation that
you must understand its physical meaning and why/how it is applied in all
methods.
Necessity of Zimm plots, why is the construction of a Zimm plot
necessary to estimate a molecular weight from a light scattering
experiment?
Various definitions of viscosity relative, specific, reduced, and
intrinsic viscosity.
SEC/GPC methods are the most commonly used methods for Mn and Mw
enumeration. Thus, you need to understand the principles of operation and
calibration, also the concepts of hydrodynamic volume and of the universal
calibration curve.
