ECTS - University of Pisa
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student will have knowledge of the main problems inherent to the characteristics, properties, rheology, operations of transformation, the fields of application of the most common polymeric systems with in-depth study of processing technologies and characterization.
Particular emphasis will be placed on engineering problems (verification and project) related to the processes described and to the characterization tests.
Autonomy of judgment
The student will be able to interpret the known data on the main polymers for evaluating the field of applicability of the same. The student will also be able to recognize and acquire all the properties of a material necessary for set design and verification problems.
Knowledge will be assessed via:
Learning skills
At the end of the course the student will have learned how to work with polymeric systems more suitable for a certain application by evaluating the properties in connection wit the function of the object. This will allow him to acquire autonomy e awareness to make reasoned and motivated choices at the time of realization of any projects.
Communication skills
The student will acquire the ability to communicate and express problems relating to the subject of the course. Will be able to point out problems related to processing and characterization of different poliemrici systems nonche 'to them behavior in place, proposing solutions to resolve anyproblems and critically evaluating their effectiveness.
Behaviors will be assessed via:
After the completion of the course, the students will be able to:
Behaviors will be assessed via:
The oral test aims at verifying the student ability to describe the rheological behaviour of polymer melts and to use this rheological description in the analysis of polymer processing techniques, either conventional or not.
Assessment: Final Mark
In order to understand the contents of the course and to be able to easily follow the learning objectives of the course, the student must master the notions acquired in the subject groups of Chemistry, Materials Science and Technology, Transfer Phenomena and Thermodynamics.
Polymer Science and Engineering, 733II or equivalent.
This course enables the course of Reactive Processing and Recycling Of Polymers (2nd year) (suggested).
Lectures are used to deliver the fundamental knowledge in relation to processing of thermoplastic polymeric materials and principles of rheology of polymer melts.
Tutorials are used to illustrate the application of fundamental knowledge to practical situations.
Experiments are used to relate the concepts to practical applications and students are exposed to hand-on experience, proper use of equipment and application of analytical skills on interpreting experimental results.
Principles of rheology of polymer melts:
Main parameters for the rheological description of fluids (stress and strain rate; viscosity). Laminar and turbolent flows (recalls). Rheological constitutive equations. Newton's law of viscosity. Non-newtonian behaviour, with particular reference to polymer melts. Isothermal flows in ducts of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. Rotational and capillary rheometry. Measurement of the shear viscosity of polymer melts by means of capillary rheometer tests. Measurement of "melt index" of polymer melts. Viscoelastic behaviour of polymer melts. Temperature effects. Pressure-volume-temperature relationships.
Polymer processing:
Single-screw plasticating extrusion process. Solid conveying, melting and metering zones. Compounding process. Injection moulding process. Volumetric shrinkage. Rotational moulding. An outline of blow moulding processes and thermoforming. Residence time distribution functions.
