NIGK15036U CANCELLED: Basic Polymer Science of Biomass/Biomaterials

This course is meant for students that have no or little background in polymers and polymer materials science and could be particularly useful for students interested in biomass, bioenergy, food science, etc. It is intended for students who would like to gain some knowledge of the fundamentals of material science of natural materials and of interesting examples in the area of biomimetics and biomimicry. The purpose of the course is that the student gets a grasp of how structure of a polymer and other materials can relate to its properties, commonly known as structure-property relationships. Molecular weight distributions, glass transition temperature and other basic, but very important polymer concepts will be covered. The concepts of intermolecular bonding, surfaces and adhesion will be taught. We will try and relate some of the concepts you learn to natural materials such as lignocellulosic material, especially the wood cell wall chemical and ultrastructure, and materials that exist in both human and animal bodies. Subjects such as the chemistry of polymerization and how polymers are synthesized will not be covered. During the course the students will make short scientific reports based on the lecture contents and the course litterature and these will be discussed in class. The students will read scientific articles supplementing the lectures.

The course covers the following subjects:

Introduction to Biomimetics and Biomimicry.

Primary and secondary atomic bonding.

Polymers:
Introduction to polymers.
What is the glass transition temperature (Tg)?
How chemical structure and morphology influences Tg and properties?
Structure-property relationships in polymers.

Surfaces and Adhesion:
Surface properties and Wetting
Adhesion Mechanisms


Bio-based Material:
Plant Based: Relating what has been learned in the previous sections; we will discuss and read papers on wood (softwood and hardwood), plant and agricultural fibers, and other natural and bio-based materials. This will include knowledge on wood ultrastructure, hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose.

Animal based: An introduction to diverse materials such as spider webs, seashells, fish scales, bones, mussels, barnacles, etc. will be taught to give an idea of biomimetics and biomimicry. and others interested in natural materials.