The aim of the course is to introduce students to Polymer Science and Technology and to present the basic principles that govern the production and processing of polymeric materials. Accordingly, the students acquire knowledge about polymerization processes and their quantitative description, being able to correlate polymerization conditions with resulting properties. Critical physicochemical properties of polymers in solid state and in melt are further discussed, with the aim to construct structure-properties relations. Finally, there is an overview of the basic polymer processing/molding techniques that lead to the production of shaped plastic articles.

Units included: Polymerization processes. Polymer Structure and Thermal Transitions. Mechanical properties. Polymer melts. Basic polymer processing techniques.