Course syllabus for Surface and material chemistry

The course syllabus contains changes
See changes

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-08 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameYt- och materialkemi
  • CodeKTK116
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKIEK
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyChemical Engineering
  • DepartmentCHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 51113
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0106 Examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c
  • 16 Mar 2024 pm J
  • 07 Jun 2024 pm J
  • 20 Aug 2024 pm J

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Aim

The main goal of the course is to make the students aware of the importance of surface and colloid chemistry and of materials chemistry, covering both polymeric materials and inorganic materials, for a wide range of industrial applications. Surfactants and surface active polymers are the toolbox of surface and colloid chemistry and one secondary aim of the course is to make the students aware of how such molecules behave in solution and at surfaces. Practically important applications of this behavior will be illustrated in the course. Another goal of the course is to make the students aware of how polymers behave both in solution and in solid state, and how plastic materials can be formulated from polymers and additives. A third goal is to familiarize the students to the world of metals, alloys, metal oxides, and ceramics, and not least chemical design and controlled synthesis of materials with specific properties. The environmental impact of polymers is an important issue today, and yet another aim of the course is to make the students aware of how this is dealt with by the authorities.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

- describe how surfactants self-aggregate in solution and at surfaces
- explain how a balance between attractive and repulsive interactions governs the stability of dispersed systems
- explain the role of surfactants as emulsifier, dispersing agent, wetting agent, and foaming agent
- describe emulsion polymerisation and the basics of paint

- account for the basic thermodynamic differences between polymers and low molecular weight compounds
- describe phenomena related to polymers in the solid state such as semi crystallinity, glass transition, and chain orientation
- account for the differences between the bulk- and engineering plastics, as well as their different application areas
- provide arguments for/against the use of polymers in the perspective of a sustainable society 

- describe in general terms some technologically important metals, alloys, and ceramics
- account for some basics concerning inorganic materials synthesis and the use of controlled doping
- explain the main concepts behind close packing and hole filling
- describe common structures, and some simple structure property relationships
- account for some practical applications

Content

The course is based on 6 two-hour lectures each in surface and colloid chemistry, polymeric materials, and inorganic materials chemistry. In addition, there is a project work and experiments in lab. 

The lectures in surface and colloid chemistry cover the following topics:
- introduction, historic development, surface tension
- surfactants and their physicochemical properties
- emulsions, suspensions and microemulsions
- emulsion polymerisation and paint
- foam, wetting, capillary forces

The lectures in polymeric materials cover the following topics:
- introduction, historic development, definition of polymers, basic concepts
- solubility and polymer solutions, determination of molecular weight
- stereo structure, crystallinity
- phases and phase transitions, viscoelastic properties
- processing of polymers, polymeric materials
- polymers and environment 

The lectures in inorganic materials chemistry cover the following topics:
- introduction, important materials classes, the chemical bond
- classification of crystal structures, electronegativity, bond types
- crystal lattices, lattice symmetry, unit cells, powder diffraction methods
- close packing, hole filling, structural models, structure-property relationships
- synthesis, solid state sintering and solution methods, phase transitions, defect chemistry
- controlled doping, high-technology ceramics (with different electric, magnetic, optic, and chemical functions)

Organisation

The course starts with a two-week block of surface and colloid chemistry followed by another two-week block of polymeric materials and finally a third two-week block of inorganic materials chemistry. The seventh week is kept for repetion in seminar form. Each block contains 6 two-hour lectures. In the surface chemistry block there is also a literature search, performed in groups, and the results obtained are presented orally in front of the class. Both literature assignments and lab experiments are compulsory, as well as the oral presentation.

Literature

Krister Holmberg, Yt- och kolloidkemi (in Swedish), Chalmers 2006.
Thomas Hjertberg, Helena Andersson, Inledande polymervetenskap (in Swedish), Chalmers 2011.
Inorganic materials is based on selected parts in "Physical Foundations of Materials Science", G. Gottstein, ISBN: 978-3-642-07271-0, (E-book at Chalmers Library)

Examination including compulsory elements

The examination is based on a written exam, grades TH, where the above listed learning outcomes are evaluated. The practical applications are also examined through approval of the project task and lab experiments.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.

The course syllabus contains changes

  • Changes to course rounds:
    • 2023-10-18: Examinator Examinator changed from Torbjörn Jonsson (tj) to Romain Bordes (bordes) by Viceprefekt
      [Course round 1]