After successful completion of the course, students are able to:

• summarise the synthesis and processing of polymers
• contrast thermoplastics / thermosets / elastomers
• explain the difference between crystalline and amorphous solidification
• describe structural features of the polymers, which influence the melting or the glass transition temperature
• select an amorphous or semi-crystalline polymer for a specific application
• draw typical stress-strain curves of polymers
• describe important influencing factors on the mechanical properties of polymers
• explain the mechanism of viscoelasticity
• list the deformation mechanisms of polymers
• survey the difference between blends and copolymers
• calculate the modulus of elasticity and the strength of fiber composites
• constitute the influence of fiber length in short fiber composites
• explain how the coloring of glasses is accesed
• identify why the strength of glasses is low and what strategies are used to improve them
• explain what strategies are used to increase the strength of ceramics
• summarise important influencing factors on the thermal shock resistance of ceramics

Polymers: structure, cooling from melting and solid state, elastic behaviour, state areas, materials, testing, basics of fibre-reinforced polymers inorganic materials: material glass - processing, structure, properties; oxide ceramics, silicate ceramics, properties

frontal teaching
calculation examples
videos
illustrative material

4 exam questions as examples:

1) Draw the DSC plot (heating curve) of a semicrystalline polymer. Explain how the the degree of crystallinity can be determined by means of this curve!

2) Describe in a few words with an example or, where appropriate, with a drawing what is meaning of:

a) a linear polymer

b) an isotactic polymer

c) branching

d) networking

e) Molar mass distribution

3) Which polyethylene has a higher density, PE-LD or PE-HD? How can the density difference be explained by the molecular shape?

4) The elastic modulus of an elastomer (NR) decreases from 3 GPa at -200 ° C to 3 MPa at room temperature, whereas the modulus of elasticity of an epoxy resin (EP) is about 10 GPa at both temperatures. Explain the different behavior.

In individual cases, such as in the case of inaccurate assessment criteria through the written examination part, an oral examination may be carried out .

Skript im TUWEL oder bei der ersten  Vorlesung erhältlich, danach im Sekretariat des Institutes (9-12 und 13-17 Uhr), Getreidemarkt 9 (Bauteil BE, 4. Stock).

Das lesen des Skripts ersetzt den Besuch der Vorlesung nicht. Es soll Studierende die selbstständige Erarbeitung des Stoffes erleichtern, und ermöglichen sich auf die Prüfung vorzubereiten. Das Skript ist bewusst knapp gehalten, ich werde aber immer die Folien der aktuellen Vorlesung im TUWEL bereitstellen. Zahlenbeispiele werden ausschließlich in der Vorlesung präsentiert. Die Existenz von Fehlern ist nicht auszuschließen!