Analysis and Characterisation of Polymers

Molecular Characterization of Polymers Determination of molecular weight, viscometry, end group analysis, colligative property, osmometry, light scattering technique, determination of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

Thermal Analysis Techniques Differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA).

X‐ray diffractometry X‐ray diffraction analysis, experimental methods, applications‐Chain conformations, chain packing, disorder in the crystal, degree of Crystallinity, micro structural parameters, degree of orientations.

Principles of microscopy Optical, SEM, TEM, AFM; Morphology of polymers, Crystallization behavior, phase separation and applications

• UV/Visible Spectroscopy Introduction, principle, Lambert law, Beer’s law, theory, instrumentation, procedure, advantages, disadvantages, interpretation of spectrogram, applications‐qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis; purity, cis‐ and trans‐ conformation.
• Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Introduction, principle, theory, instrumentation, ATR attachment, methods of sample preparation, advantages, disadvantages, interpretation of spectra, applications, establishment of chemical structure of polymers, reaction kinetics, polymer linkage, hydrogen bond formation, purity, copolymerization, qualitative and quantitative results, gas chromatograph (GC) ‐ Mass spectrometer.
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance(NMR) spectroscopy, (1H NMR and 13C NMR), Introduction, Principle, theory, Spin‐spin coupling, coupling constant – chemical shifts ‐ instrumentation, procedure, method of sample preparation ‐ applications – chemical structures, purity, tacticity, Solid state NMR – applications.