The aim of the course is to understand and quantify the thermal, rheological, mechanical and interfacial properties of polymers, their solutions and mixtures based on the chemical composition and architecture of macromolecular chains. Introduction: Reminder of basic structural features and properties of polymers.  Chemical constitution and architecture of macromolecules. Molecular weight distributions.  Conformations of polymer chains: Statistical description. Simple models for linear chains experiencing local interactions along their backbones: freely jointed, freely rotating, wormlike (Porod-Kratky) chain.  Quantities characteristic of the spatial extent of a chain: end-to-end distance and its distribution, radius of gyration. Quantities characteristic of the conformational stiffness of a chain: characteristic ratio, Kuhn segment length, persistence length. Excluded volume effect. Swelling of chains in good solvents. Theta conditions.  Thermodynamics of polymer solutions: Flory-Huggins theory: calculation of the entropy and enthalpy of mixing. The chi interaction parameter. Osmotic pressure of polymer solutions.  Predictions of the phase diagram of polymer solutions and blends based on Flory-Huggins theory. Dilute polymer solution dynamics:  Friction coefficient and viscosity. Intrinsic viscosity and its calculation based on the Einstein equation. Mark-Houwink equation and its use in the determination of molecular weights. Size exclusion chromatography. Universal calibration.  Polymer networks: Types of networks and their topological characteristics. Thermodynamics of elastic deformation. Entropic and energetic contribution to the elastic response. Ideal elastomers. Statistical mechanical theory of the elastic response. Affine and phantom network models. Mooney-Rivlin equation. Swelling of polymer networks in solvents. Gels and their applications. Viscoelasticity of polymer melts and solutions: Linear viscoelastic properties: Viscosity, stress relaxation modulus, compliance. Storage and loss moduli. Boltzmann superposition principle. Rouse model for unentangled polymer melts. Entanglements and their consequences for rheological properties. Reptation model and its predictions for the dependence of rheological properties on molecular weight. Glassy polymers: Phenomenology of the glass transition. Kauzmann temperature. Experimental determination of the glass temperature. Free volume theories. Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation and time-temperature superposition principle. Mechanical properties of glassy polymers. Plasticization.