Center for Sustainable Macromolecular Materials and Manufacturing

Courses offered for polymers track

CHE 568: Polymer Principles and Processing
Instructor: Matthew Green
Semester Offered: Fall (T Th 1:30-2:45 pm)

This course covers relevant polymer synthesis techniques, molecular and structural characterization methods, elastic deformation and viscoelasticity models related to processing, and block polymer morphology.

CHM/CHE 494/598: Sustainable Macromolecular Synthesis
Instructor: Yoan Simon
Semester Offered: Spring (T Th 3-4:15 pm)

Adaptive/Active learning system used. Students in the course will be able to: (1) Appreciate emerging synthetic methods/mechanisms for polymer synthesis, (2) Formulate fundamental relationships of macromolecular structure and physical properties, (3) Gain awareness of recent advances in green challenge award case studies, (4) Exemplify the principles of green chemistry, and (5) Understand the terminology for advanced manufacturing and the relationship of advanced molecular structure for advanced sustainable manufacturing, and (6) Gain sensitivity for sustainable processes with industrial polymer industries, past successes and future initiatives.

CHE/CHM 494/598: Soft Matter Morphology
Instructor: S. Eileen Seo
Semester Offered: Spring (T Th 12-1:15 pm)

This course will serve as an introduction of soft matter morphology where students will gain insights into the molecular interactions and assembly of soft materials to bridge molecular structure and performance. It covers general aspects of assemblies of liquid/liquid phases and immiscible phases of organic macromolecules and inorganic fillers into crystalline and semi-crystalline structures via thermodynamic and kinetic processes.

CHM 494/598: Chemistry for Sustainability
Instructor: Caitlin Sample
Semester Offered: Spring (M W 3-4:15 pm)

This course will cover ongoing efforts to direct the field of chemistry towards a more sustainable future. Guided by the 12 fundamental principles of green chemistry, topics will include renewable feedstocks, safer reagents, atom economy, catalyst use, and pollution considerations. Metrics to quantify the sustainability of chemical processes will be defined, and case studies will demonstrate the need for and implementation of green chemistry principles at the production scale. In addition to the foundational text by Anastas and Warner, students will supplement their knowledge with discussions and analysis of green chemistry in contemporary scientific literature.

CHE/CHM 598: Circular Plastics Laboratory I/II
Semester Offered: Fall (M W (F) 9:05-9:55 am)/ Spring (T Th 10:30-11:45 am)

Exciting Students for Sustainability with Curriculum, Open-Access Resources, and Training (ESSCORT) Program is a transportable educational framework that integrates systems and futures thinking at the intersection of innovation and society coupled with plastics redesign across discipline-focused schools and professional societies of science and engineering. We thank the National Institute of Standards and Technology for sponsoring this program.

Is it possible to rethink the way we design, use, and reuse plastics to create a circular economy? Global transition from an outdated linear (take-make-waste model) to a more sustainable circular model continues to shape plastics selection, product design, and commercialization. In a Circular Economy, circular thinking demands that materials reenter the economy at end-of-life, thus increasing profits while ensuring sustainability, longevity, and societal well-being. Recycling, reusing, reducing, and redesigning (the 4 Rs) demand fundamental understanding of analytical tools and metrologies to ensure performance. Students will garner fundamental yet multidimensional understanding of a circular economy including the roles of material science and engineering, technology, and economic and institutional structures. The course provides hands-on training with next-generation research tools that are critical for circular thinking with a sustainability-minded workforce. Key topics include foundational training in state-of-the-art characterization tools for sustainable plastic design, property measurements, and complementary skills in computational, artificial intelligence, decision-making, life cycle analysis, distributed advanced manufacturing, and techno-economic analysis tools.

CHE/CHM 494/598: Polymer Physics
Instructor: Kailong Jin
Semester Offered: Fall (M W 1:30-2:45 pm)

This course covers topics in polymer physics including: chain conformations; thermodynamics of polymer solutions, blends, and copolymers; dynamics in dilute solutions and polymer characterization; dynamics of melts and viscoelasticity; rubber elasticity, networks, and gels; glass transitions; crystallization.

CHM 598: Supramolecular Chemistry and Self-Assembly
Instructor: Nicholas Stephanopoulos
Semester Offered: Spring (T Th 3-4:15 pm)

Supramolecular chemistry and self-assembly use non-covalent inter- and intra-molecular forces to control the hierarchical organization of molecular (or larger) species. This course will cover a broad range of subjects in this field, from the basic physical organic and thermodynamic parameters that control self-assembly, to the molecular design of complex species that can organize across length scales. The class will utilize examples from the current literature, and emphasize the use of concepts in biology and biotechnology, nanotechnology, molecular machines, and devices for energy, health, and smart materials. Adaptive/Active learning system used.

CHE 494/598: Nanobiotechnology
Instructor: Kaushal Rege
Semester Offered: Spring (T Th 3-4:15 pm)

This course will be an introduction to the foundations and latest developments in the field of nanobiotechnology. The discussion will include an introduction to cellular and molecular biology, molecular and nanoscale (colloidal) interactions, self-assembly, inorganic and organic nanoparticles, nanoparticle functionalization, top-down nanotechnology, nanoscale diagnostics, therapeutics, imaging and drug delivery systems. The course will discuss new and exciting developments from the emerging field of nanomedicine. Invited lectures from external speakers (e.g. other professors) and group discussions will be part of the course. There is no textbook required for the course. The course will be based on lectures. Review and research articles from the literature will also be provided throughout the course.

Courses coming soon

CHE/CHM 494/598: Applied Rheology of Polymers
Instructor: Jeffrey Self
Semester Offered: TBD

This course focuses on the rheology and processing of polymers. Topics include fluids models, tensors, flow in various geometries, linear viscoelasticity, start-up and steady shear, oscillatory shear, Rouse model, Reptation model, time-temperature superposition, non-linear viscoelasticity, rheometry, molecular structural effects, elongation, block copolymer, liquid crystalline polymer, nanocomposites, injection molding, extrusion, dimensional analysis, fiber spinning, film blowing, reaction Injection molding, solution coating.