Teaching Polymer Theory through the Living Polymerization and Characterization of Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Poly(butyl methacrylate) Homo- and Copolymers

Abstract

This work describes a semester-long learning module designed to equip students with the analytical and practical skills necessary to be successful in an interdisciplinary polymer research environment. This learning module combines laboratory experiments involving both synthesis and materials characterization with lectures in polymer theory, and encourages chemists and engineers to learn alongside one another. Specifically, students learn air-free Schlenk technique to facilitate the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of a series of homo- and copolymers made from n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomers. Students analyze these polymers using techniques that traverse the interdisciplinary spectrumincluding Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Proton-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)and learn about the theory and mathematics behind the measurements. Ultimately, this hands-on experience in polymer material design bridges the structure–property relationships taught by classical and applied polymer theory.

Synthesis of PCL–PEG–PCL Triblock Copolymer via Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Polymerization and Its Application as an Injectable Hydrogel—An Interdisciplinary Learning Trial

“…As a flourishing interdisciplinary subject, polymer science has greatly facilitated the progress of innovative technologies in many fields, such as medicine, electronics, and the aerospace industry. − Laboratory experiment is an important part of teaching polymer science to undergraduates, and is aimed at training their experimental skills and cultivating their research interest. However, most of the polymer experiments just involve classical reactions and types, although a few new experiments reflect the development of the discipline. − Polymer chemistry experiments focus on the skills of polymer synthesis but sometimes ignore the properties and applications of synthetic materials. ,, Meanwhile, teaching experiments of polymer physics and polymer chemistry experiments are independent of each other in most of cases .…”

Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerisation: chain polymerisation made simple

“…For these same reasons, RDRP is more suitable than conventional radical polymerisation for undergraduate laboratory experiments in polymer chemistry. Laboratory exercises in AMRP (Tillman, Contrella, & Leasure, 2009), ATRP (Koshut, Arnold, Smith, Wright, & Sydlik, 2019;Matyjaszewski, Beers, Metzner, & Woodworth, 2001;Tsarevsky, Woodruff, & Wisian-Neilson, 2016), and RAFT (Nguyen, Bennet, Stenzel, & Barner-Kowollik, 2008) have been published and are used in many undergraduate chemistry courses, including that at the University of New England.…”

Configuration and isomeric composition of rubbers: determination by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

“…Спектроскопия ядерного магнитного резонанса (ЯМР) является удобным методом изучения структуры и изомерного состава различных полимеров, в том числе и диеновых каучуков [1][2][3][4][5][6]. С помощью методов ЯМР- посвящено немало работ [7][8][9][10][11], в том числе и модифицированных полидиенов с концевыми гидроксильными группами, а также диенуретанов с концевыми эпоксидными группами [12,13].…”