PA4111 Polymer Characterization Laboratory Syllabus:

PA4111 Polymer Characterization Laboratory Syllabus – Anna University PG Syllabus Regulation 2021

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 To get practice in testing the Physico-mechanical properties of plastic materials.
 To provide hands on experience on various polymerization techniques.
 To make the student understand simple experimental procedures to determine molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of polymers.
 To make the student familiarize with the thermal properties of polymers.
 To make the student understand simple techniques to identify the plastic materials.

LIST OF EXPERIMENTS:

1. Identification of Plastics materials.
2. Density determination.
3. Bulk polymerization – Preparation of polymethyl methacrylate.
4. Solution Polymerization – Preparation of polyacrylamide.
5. Preparation of Phenol-Formaldehyde, UF and MF resins.
6. Synthesis of copolymers by Emulsion, Bulk, solution & suspension Polymerization.
7. Measurement of viscosity of polymer solutions and determination of molecular weight of the polymer.
8. End group analysis.
9. Determination of acid value of a resin.
10. Study of Molecular weight distribution (GPC).
11. Determination of cure of a phenolic moulding (percentage acetone soluble matter).
12. Study of Thermal Stability of polymers.
13. Determination of K-value for PVC.
14. Viscosity and Molecular Weight Determination
15. Determination of Filler content

TOTAL: 60 PERIODS

COURSE OUTCOMES:

At the end of the course, students will be able to
CO1 Measure viscosity the of polymer solutions.
CO2 Synthesize various types of polymers by using suitable polymerisation techniques.
CO3 Identify plastics materials by simple methods.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

Glassware for reactions and spot tests, Ostwald/Ubbelohde viscometer

REFERENCES:

1. ASTM test standards for plastics Vol.8.01 to 8.04, 9.01 & 9.02, 2002.
2. ISO test standards, 1998.
3. Vishu Shah, Hand Book of Plastics Testing Technology, John Wiley & Sons. Inc. New York, 1998.
4. Saunders, K J. The Identification of Plastics and Rubbers. London: Chapman and Hall, 1970.
5. R.P. Brown, Hand Book of Plastics Test Methods, George Godwin Ltd., London, 1981.