Polymer Testing and Characterization

Polymers have a range of applications that far exceeds that of any other class of material available to man. Current applications extend from adhesives, coatings, foams, and packaging materials to textile and industrial fibers, composites, electronic devices, biomedical devices, optical devices, and precursors for many newly developed high-tech ceramics.

Polymer Testing & Characterization is a course that provides an overview of the polymer properties that are essential for designing the above products, specifying the material to be used, carrying out quality control on finished products, failure analysis and for understanding the structure and behavior of new materials.

After completing Polymer Testing & Characterization, students will be equipped with a basic understanding of the following:

• Physical properties and characterization techniques
• Chemical properties and characterization techniques
• Thermal properties and characterization techniques
• Mechanical properties and characterization techniques
• Electrical properties and characterization techniques
• Polymer aging studies

A basic understanding of polymer science is recommended.

Students will be assigned 5 homework assignments, and 1 final exam.

Physical Testing

• Specific gravity
• Density
• Optical- Scanning electron microscopes
• Water absorption
• Surface roughness- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Wyko

Chemical Testing

• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy – FTIR
• Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy – EDS
• Melt viscosity
• Molecular weight

Thermal Testing

• Differential Scanning Calorimetry – DSC
• Thermogravimetric analysis – TGA
• Thermomechanical Analysis –TMA
• Dynamic Mechanical Analysis – DMA
• Thermal conductivity • Thermal expansion
• Flammability

Mechanical Testing

• Tensile testing
• Elongation testing
• Compression testing
• Flexural testing
• Hardness testing
• Impact testing

Electrical Testing

• Surface resistivity
• Dielectric strength
• Dielectric constant
• Arc ignition/resistance

Aging Testing

• Heat testing
• Thermal cycling
• Humidity
• Chemical resistance
• Environmental stress cracking
• UV testing

This course is Instructor-led and delivered through our award-winning online Learning Management System.