University Polymer Syllabi
for Chemistry-Major and
Chemistry-Related
Programs in Malaysia
Chin Han CHAN, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM),
Malaysia
Chee Cheong HO, Malaysian Institute of Chemistry (IKM)
& University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia
IKM Brain-Storming Session on university polymer syllabi
Date:18 Feb 2012
Venue: IKM Secretariat, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, KL
Jointly organized by IKM and UiTM
Chairperson: Prof. Dr. Chee Cheong HO
Rapporteur: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chin Han CHAN
Participants: 26 representatives
Professiona bodies: IKM, LGM, SIRIM, PRIM,
Higher learning institutes: UiTM, UKM, UM, UniKL, Universiti Teknologi
PETRONAS, UPM, UPNM, USM, UTAR, UTM
Private companies: AkzoNobel Chemicals, Ansell, Kossan Rubber,
Malayan Adhesive & Chemical Sdn Bhd.
Knowledge
Laboratory
Other skill sets
Service
providers
/universities
QC, QA
Graduates/
products
specifications
Consumers/
industries
Stakeholders
in the system
Product
feedback
Skill-set needed
Knowledgeable (content related) –
general vs specific
Digital literacy
Multi-tasking ability
Communication skill
Inter-personal skill
Problem-solving skill
Diverse industry needs
 Paints and coatings
One of the
biggest
 Adhesives
employers
in
 Sealants
Malaysia
 Industrial rubber products
 Dipped-goods: rubber gloves, balloons
 Medical devices
20% of the
 Tyres and inner tubes
industries
 Polymer resins
 Fabrication of plastics products
Issues
 Contents: knowledge imparted ► general
vs specific
 practical skill in laboratory
 Communication skill: oral presentation,
negotiation
 Writing skill: reports, manuscripts
 Understanding power (language): reading
 Interpretation and deduction skills
 Ability to conduct independent work
What is lacking: employers view
1. Need extensive on-the-job training in order to
perform.
2. The graduates require detailed explanation to
understand specific subject matters and to carry out
task.
3. Innovation and thinking skill appear to be lacking.
They lack ability to carry out their task independently
4. Most need help in interpretation of results of analysis,
and need specific direction and hand-holding in their
job.
University training
 Polymer as a degree programme
 Polymer only part of a chemistry
degree programme
 Some polymer modules are embedded in
Materials science, Materials engineering,
Chemical engineering, Nanotechnology
programmes
 Polymer processing (non-chemistry, more
technology)
Training requirement differs
 Programme offered differs from
University to university ►niche area
 Course contents differ: core vs elective
 Duration differs (3 years vs 4 years)
 Credit hours required to pass differs
 With/without industrial internship
 With/without laboratory training modules
 With/without minor research project
Contents coverage







Polymer synthesis
Characterization
Properties
Applications
Processing
Environmental issues
Disposal methods
Current situation of the syllabus of polymer science in some
universities
 Polymer chemistry is not compulsory
 Polymer processing is not part of compulsory polymer content
 The content of latex technology is not sufficient.
Table 1 Polymer syllabus for Chemistry related courses in
USM, UM, UKM, UPM, UiTM
Topic
USM
UM*
UKM
UPM
UiTM
UiTM
(Pure
Chem)
(Appl
Chem)
1
2
3
2
1
1
Basic Concepts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Synthesis
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Characterization
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Processing
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Lab as part of the
course
Lab in other courses
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No. of polymer course
*elective
The proposal for the syllabus of polymer science for chemistry
major and chemistry-related programs
1) 2 courses with 3 credit hours
2) Each course: 2 hrs lecture per week + 3 hrs lab session per week
3) Lab must be related to the theory
4) 70 contact hrs per course (28 hrs lecture + 42 hrs lab)
Introduction
Definition, classification, naming (IUPAC & non IUPAC, trade name), MW
Synthesis
Addition (free radical, ionic, ring-opening)
Step-growth/condensation polymerization
Co-polymerization
Kinetics
MWD
Techniques (bulk, solution, emulsion, suspension, dispersion)
Characterization & Properties
Solution properties (MW, solubility)
MW determination (end group, viscometry, GPC, light scattering,
colligative properties
Thermal analysis (TGA, DMA, DSC, TMA)
Spectroscopy analysis/molecular characterization (FTIR, NMR, UV-VIS,
XRD etc)
Morphological (SEM, TEM, AFM)
Rheology ( Rubber elasticity, viscoelastic – dynamic properties)
Physical (density, moisture absorption, dimension stability)
Mechanical (tensile, flexural, compression, impact)
Applications
Plastics
Rubber
Composites, Nano-composites
Adhesives & coatings
Latex
Processing
Injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, compression
Environment & Disposal
Green polymers (Natural & synthetic polymers)
Polymer recycling
Degradation (shelf life, biodegradation)
Safety & health hazard (MSDS)
Laboratory training
Recommendations:
1. should be designed to impart skill on handling simple
analytical apparatus (e.g. hands-on for viscometer,
dilatometer, osmometer etc.).
2. Statistical concept on data handing and analysis
(reproducibility, repeatability, precision and accuracy) is
emphasized.
3. The introduction of instrument should be as basic as
possible to allow self assembling capability.
4. There should be at least ONE experiment that requires
the undergraduates to partially design their own
experiment, rather than provide detailed step by step
procedure.
Exp 1: Solubility and identification of polymers
Objective: Solubility of macromolecules in low-molecular
(mostly organic) solvents in addition of some IR test for
identification of polymers
Description:
1. The experiment will mediate experience in preparation of
polymer solutions and qualitative evaluation of solubility
and FTIR spectroscopy.
2. FTIR tables will be provided.
3. By comparing solubility of polymers in various solvents
plus referring to FTIR analyses, the student could identify
the polymers.
Exp 2: Separation and purification of polymer
Objectives:
To carry out separation and purification of polymer.
To perform quantitative analysis of PMMA and cinnamic
acid by UV analysis.
Description:
1. PMMA is dissolved in chloroform containing added
cinnamic acid as an”impurity”.
2. The PMMA could be precipitated out from the
chloroform solution by the addition of methanol.
3. The precipitated PMMA could be isolated by filtration.
4. Higher purification could be achieved through reprecipitation process.
5. The removal of cinnamic acid could be confirmed with
UV spectroscopic analysis.
Exp 3: Preparation of polyester by condensation
polymerization
Objectives:
1. Understanding the concept of synthesis polyester from the
condensation polymerization
2. Determining initial amounts of –OH and –COOH in the starting
materials, ratio = [-COOH]/[-OH] and an average of molecular weight
of polyester.
3. Application of the Carothers Equation
Description:
1. To prepare polyester by condensation polymerization of ethylene
glycol (a diol) and phthalic anhydride (a dicarboxylic acid).
2. The extend of reaction is monitored from the amount of water evolved
from the condensation reaction.
3. The average degree of polymerization is estimated by applying the
Carothers Equation.
Exp 4: Viscosity-average molecular weight
Objectives:
1. To determine the intrinsic viscosity of polystyrene
sample in toluene solution.
2. Determining the viscosity average molecular weight by
applying the Mark-Houwink equation.
Description:
1. Measurements of the viscosity of dilute polymer solution
using Ubberlohde viscometer.
Exp 5: Determination of Mn by vapor pressure
osmometer
Objective:
To determine the Mn by vapor pressure osmometer
polymer sample in toluene solution.
Description:
1. The pure solvent and the polymer solution are separated
by a semi-permeable membrane in vapor pressure (or
membrane) osmometry.
2. The hydrostatic excess pressure is measured in
dependence on the polymer concentration of the solution.
Exp 6: Determination of glass transition
temperature by dilatometry technique
Objective:
Determination of glass transition temperature of poly (isobutyl
methacrylate).
Description:
Tg of poly (isobutyl methacrylate) will be determined with
dilatometry technique, i.e. by observing the change in height
of the meniscus of the capillary tube / specific volume (which
is related to the thermal expansion coefficient) of the polymer
over a certain temperature range.
Exp 7: Determination of the crosslink
parameters of a vulcanised natural rubber
Objectives:
1. Understand the behaviour of the vulcanized natural rubber.
2. To correlate the degree of vulcanisation from Mc the molecular
weight between crosslink, by applying the Mooney-Rivlin
equation at low extension ( < 1.5).
3. Understand the concept of swelling of vulcanized rubber in
toluene, where higher amount of crosslinking would reduce the
solvent swelling.
4. The Mc can be estimated from the volume fraction of the rubber
in the solvent swollen sample.
Description:
1. stress strain method, the effect of hysteresis is shown by plotting the
weight L (kg) vs extension λ for both addition and removal of load.
2. swelling method consists of two steps
i.
Determination of density of rubber
ii. Determination of the swelling of the rubber sample.
Each student is assigned one mini
project
To be completed within 7 weeks.
Each project consists of the following elements.
1. Sample preparation(s) or sample treatment(s).
2. Sample characterization by spectoscopic and/or
thermal analysis.
3. Data interpretation.
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Name
Dr Eng Aik Hwee
Dr C C Ho – Chairman
Dr Koh Mok Poh
Mr Vivayganathan Kathireson
Dr Loo Koi Sang
Dato’ Dr Ong Eng Long
En Azuan bin Zakaria
Dr Nor Yuziah Mohd Yunus
Mr P K Chan
Dr Md Aris Ahmad
Dr Chan Chin Han
Dr Famiza Abd Latiff
Assoc Prof Rusli Daik
Prof Dr Ibrahim Abdullah
Prof Dr Gan Seng Neon
Dr Ong Siew Kooi
En Fahmi Asyadi Md Yusof
En Muzafar Zukifli
Assoc Prof Dr Zakaria Man
Assoc Prof Dr Mansor Ahmad
Prof Dato’ Dr Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus
Prof Dr Wan Ahmad Kamil Mahmood
Dr Chee Swee Yong
Assoc Prof Dr Mat Uzir Wahit
Dr Rahim Sudin
Prof Dr Azanam Shah Hashim
Organization
Ansell / IKM
IKM
IKM
IKM
IKM
Kossan Rubber / IKM
LGM Akademi Hevea Malaysia
Malayan Adhesive & Chemical / IKM
PRIM
LGM / PRIM
UiTM / IKM
UiTM
UKM
UKM / IKM
UM / IKM
UniKL, MICET
UniKL, MICET
UniKL,MICET
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
UPM
UPNM / IKM
USM
UTAR
UTM
FRIM
MICET.UNIKL
Thank you