UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Proposal Form for New or Revised Modules (MA1- version 4)
Approval information
Approval Type
Date of
Introduction/Change
New module
Discontinue module
Revised module
October 2013
If new, does this module
replace another? If so,
enter module code and
title:
If revised/discontinued,
Removed as an option for F1N1 Chemistry with Management and
please outline the rationale F1N2 Chemistry with Management with Intercalated year students
for the changes:
and some change to the material taught
Confirmation that affected
departments have been
consulted:
None
Module Summary
1. Module Code (if known)
CH3A4
2. Module Title
Polymer Chemistry
3. Lead department:
Chemistry
4. Name of module leader
Prof Dave Haddleton
5. Level
UG:
PG:
Level 4 (Certificate)
Level 6 (Honours)
Level 7 (Masters)
Level 5 (Intermediate)
Level 8 (Doctoral)
See Guidance Notes for relationship to years of study
6. Credit value(s) (CATS)
7.5 CATS
7. Principal Module Aims
Give a basis of polymer chemistry and for the synthesis of block and
statistical copolymers with designed and desires properties for a range of
real applications.
To establish the students awareness of the design of polymer properties
and how this can be practically achieved.
Understanding of ionic and living polymerisation
1
Module Summary

To show the wealth of chemistry used in polymer synthesis in
order to give the chemist control over the macromolecular
properties.

The use of of organic and organometallic chemistry in polymer
chemistry with a consideration of mechanistic chemistry and the
impact of this on materials properties.

Living polymerisation to give control over polymer architecture
building on anionic polymerisation to group transfer
polymerisation.

Controlled radical polymerisation chemistry including chain
transfer, ATRP, RAFT and nitroxide chemistry.

Coordination polymerisation including Ziegler Natta and ROMP.

A glimpse into high added value polymerisation being used in
therapeutics and micro electronics.

Use of CASE studies to illustrate the technical uses of this
advanced chemistry.
8. Contact Hours
(summary)
15 hrs Total Lectures
9. Assessment methods
(summary)
100% Examined
2
Module Context
10. Please list all departments involved in the teaching of this module. If taught by more than
one department, please indicate percentage split.
Chemistry
11. Availability of module
Degree Code
F100
F101
F102
F105
F106
F107
F108
F121
F122
F125
F126
F127
BF91
B9F1
FC11
F1C1
Title
Study Year
C/OC/
A/B/C
Chemistry BSc
Chemistry BSc with Intercalated Year
General Chemistry BSc
Chemistry MChem
Chemistry MChem with Professional
Experience
Chemistry MChem with Intercalated Year
Chemistry MChem with Industrial Training
MChem
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry BSc
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry with
Intercalated Year BSc
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry
MChem
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry with
Professional Experience MChem
Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry
MChem with Intercalated Year
Biomedical Chemistry BSc
Biomedical Chemistry BSc with Intercalated
Year
Chemical Biology MChem
Chemical Biology MChem with Intercalated
Year
Visiting Students
3
4
3
3
3
Option
Option
Option
Core
Core
B 7.5
B 7.5
B 7.5
7.5
7.5
3 or 4
4
Core
Option
B
7.5
7.5
3
4
Option
Option
B
B
7.5
7.5
3
Option
B
7.5
3
Option
B
7.5
3 or 4
Option
B
7.5
3
4
Option
Option
A
A
7.5
7.5
3
3 or 4
Option
Option
A
A
7.5
7.5
Credits
7.5
12. Minimum number of registered students required for module to run
10
13. Pre- and Post-Requisite Modules
Pre-requisites
CH242
Post-requisites
None
Module Content and Teaching
14. Teaching and Learning Activities
3
Module Content and Teaching
Lectures
Workshops
Tutorials
Laboratory sessions
Total contact hours
Module duration (weeks)
Other activity
15hrs total
15hrs total
5 weeks
60 hrs self study, revision etc.
(please describe): e.g.
distance-learning, intensive
weekend teaching etc.
15. Assessment Method (Standard)
Type of assessment
Examinations
Assessed
essays/coursework
Other formal assessment
Visiting Students
Length
1.5 Hours
% weighting
100%
Words
VA AO
100%
16. Methods for providing feedback on assessment.
Marks for Examination to be provided via Personal Tutor.
17. Outline Syllabus
Lecture 1-2: Review of copolymers, differences between statistical, block, graft, alpha functional, telechelic
polymers, advanced aspects of radical copolymerisation, applications of block and functional copolymers.
Physical properties of copolymers; Thermal transitions of statistical and block copolymers, theoretical basis
and calculation of glass transition temperature for block copolymers, phase separation in block copolymers,
phase diagrams for block copolymers.
Lecture 3-4: Statistical copolymerisation, Instantaneous copolymer equation (derivation and use), reactivity
ratios (meaning and implication); Use of copolymer equation Fa vs fa plots
Lecture 5: Review of general aspects of living polymerisation characteristics; Mn vs conversion; kinetics of
living polymerization, Block copolymers by sequential addition; difunctional initiators to ABA triblock
copolymers; Multi functional initiators to give arms first star polymers; concepts of highly efficient chemistry
required.
Lecture 6: End group functionalisation in living polymerisation to alpha functional polymers; telechelic
polymers; chain extension of telechelics; Example case study – alpha functional polymers for
bioconjugation. Polymerisation of functional monomers; Kraton thermoplastic elastomers (Example case
study – uses of Kraton polymers and a look at the product literature).
Lecture 7: Ionic ring opening polymerisation, poly(ethers), alpha functional poly(ethers), ring opening
polymerisation of lactones and lactides, concept of biodegradable polymers and controlling degradation,
Case study – BIOPOL from fermentation, polymers from ROP in drug delivery, Case study – Zoladex in
cancer treatment. Use of organometallic catalysts in ROP.
Lecture 8-9: Group transfer polymerisation; Associative vs Dissociative mechanism considerations; reaction
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Module Content and Teaching
conditions for GTP,. Example case study ABA blocks from GTP in ink jet printing.
Lecture 10-11. Introduction to coordination polymerisation and Ziegler Natta polymerisation, The Nobel
prize, mechanistic aspects, traditional Z/N polymerisation, stereoregular control in Z/N and consequences
for materials properties, syndioselective and isoselective polymerisation, polymerisation kinetics,
metallocence catalysts for Z/N and effect of catalyst symmetry on properties, hydrocarbon copolymerisation.
Lecture 11-12. Ring opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP), Catalysts for ROMP; ROMP
polymerisation mechanism’ Aqueous ROMP; Case study – The Nobel prize for ROMP, conducting polymers
from ROMP (polyacetylene)
Lecture 13-14: Introduction to living radical polymerisation; general considerations, Inifiters, nitroxide
mediated polymerisation, differences between nitroxides, limitations ATRP, kinetics of ATRP, practical
considerations of ATRP, review of catalysts and different metals, polymer architectures from ATRP,
controlling the reactivity with ligand structure. Chain transfer techniques for controlling polymer structure,
functional chain transfer agents, catalytic chain transfer polymerisation, concept of RAFT, RAFT agents,
practical aspects,..
Lecture 15. Overview of module and bringing concepts together to consider more polymers for advanced
applications, e.g. Polymers in therapeutic and Nanomedicine applications, , thermoresponsive polymers,
polymers in microelectronics and lithography, Case study – The IBM Millipede process for memory storage,
self assembly of polymers in solution, concept of polymers as non viral vectors.
18. Illustrative Bibliography
General
Atkins “Physical Chemistry”
Morrisson and Boyd
“Organic Chemistry”
Chapter 23
Chapter 26
Macromolecules
Kinetics
Chapter 31
Organic chemistry
Monographs
G Odian
Young and Lovell
Polymer Chemistry
P Remmp and E W Merrill
Challa
Principles of Polymerisation
Introduction to Polymers (3rd Edition)
Hiemenz and Lodge
Polymer Synthesis
Introduction to Polymer Chemistry
Internet
http://www.umr.edu/~jstoffer/CHEM381/index.html
http://www.psrc.usm.edu/polyclass/macrogalleria.htm
19. Learning outcomes
Successful completion of the module leads to the learning outcomes. The learning outcomes identify the
knowledge, skills and attributes developed by the module.
Learning Outcomes should be presented in the format ”By the end of the module students should be able
to...” using the table at the end of the module approval form:
5
Resources
20. List any additional requirements and indicate the outcome of any discussions about these.
Approval
21. Module leader’s
signature
Prof Dave Haddleton
22. Date of approval
14th January 2013
23. Name of Approving
Committee (include minute
reference if applicable)
LTC
24. Chair of Committee’s
signature
Dr Andrew Clark
25. Head of Department(s)
Signature
Prof Mike Shipman
6
Examination Information
A1. Name of examiner (if
different from module
leader)
Prof Dave Haddleton
A2. Indicate all available methods of assessment in the table below
% Examined
% Assessed by other methods
100%
Length of examination paper
1.5hrs
A3. Will this module be examined together with any other module (sectioned paper)? If so,
please give details below.
No
A4. How many papers will
the module be examined
by?
A5. When would you wish
the exam take place (e.g.
Jan, April, Summer)?
1 paper
2 papers
March
A6. Is reading time
required?
Yes
No
A7. Please specify any special exam timetable arrangements.
A8. Stationery requirements
No. of Answer books?
Graph paper?
Calculator?
Any other special
stationery requirements
(e.g. Data books, tables
etc)?
A9. Type of examination paper
Seen?
Yes
No
Open Book?
Yes
No
Restricted?
Yes
No
If restricted, please provide
a list of permitted texts:
7
LEARNING OUTCOMES
(By the end of the module the student should be able
to....)
Understand and be aware of differences and similarities
between homo and co-polymers
Understand terms and definitions used in statistical
copolymerisation and block copolymers and be able to give
synthetic strategies to each.
To fully understand the kinetics behind living polymerisation
and
Understand the basis of group transfer polymerisation and
its relationship to ionic polymerisation
Understand synthetic, kinetic and theoretical aspects of ring
opening polymerisation.
Understand synthetic, kinetic and theoretical aspects of
Ziegler Natta addition polymerisation with a detailed
understanding of the mechanistic aspects.
Understand synthetic, kinetic and theoretical aspects of
ROMP with a detailed understanding of the mechanistic
aspects.
Appreciate the differences between living ionic and living
radical polymerisation
Give examples of where polymers are being used in
advanced applications and to describe why these molecules
are used in a particular application
Use the internet to locate information and resource on
polymers, polymeric materials and polymer properties.
Which teaching and learning methods
enable students to achieve this learning
outcome?
(reference activities in section 15)
Which summative assessment method(s) will
measure the achievement of this learning
outcome?
(reference activities in section 16)
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
Lectures and guided reading
Examination
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