Learning about polymer testing methods and data evaluation with an emphasis on mechanical and thermal properties. Relating structure and properties of polymers. Learning about testing methotods that are characteristic for polymers and semi-finished products. Encouraging students to follow news about development of testing machines and methods.

Student responsibilities:

Participation on lessons. Performing experiments, data evaluation and presentation. Occasional reading about current development of testing machines and methods. Writing of testing report.

Grading and evaluation of student work over the course of instruction and at a final exam:

Continuous evaluation during the lessons: participation, discussion, measurements, presentation of results

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to (learning outcomes):

1 . Relate structure and properties of polymers.

2 . Recognise demands on products.

3 . Recommend testing and argue the choice of methods.

4 . Apply standards when determining the manner of conducting the test.

5 . Evaluate measurement results.

6 . Critically reject or accept measurement results.

7 . Work well in a team of peers.

Lectures

1. Basic concepts and advancement in testing technology of polymers.

2. Structure and properties of polymers

3. Viscoelasticity

4. Mechanical properites - introduction and tensile properties

5. Flexural and compression properties

6. Creep and stress relaxation

7. Impact properties and hardness

8. Exam 1

9. Thermal properties of polymers and thermal and rheological history

10. Weathering properties

11. Dynamic-mechanical analysis

12. Materials characterisation tests

13. Identification analysis of plastic materials

14. Flammability and chemical properties

15. Exam 2

Exercises

1. Introduction to laboratory work, students tasks during the semester

2. Performans of polymer products depending on materials - team work, short report

3. Standards for testing of polymers and polymer products on universal testing machine - students presentations

4. Universal testing machine - mechanism and SW control

5. Tensile test - testing

6. Tensile test - evaluation

7. Flexural test - testing

8. Flexural test - evaluation

9. Hardness - testing and evaluation

10. Writing of testing reports

11. DMA - introduction to the SW controling

12. DMA - analysis of measurements

13. Characterisation of polymers - introduction

14. Characterisation of polymers - team work

15. Characterisation of polymers - team work

Compulsory literature:

1. Handbook of Plastics Testing and Failure Analysis, Vishu Shah, Wiley, 2006, p. 0-0

Recommended literature: