Course syllabus for Thermoprocessable sustainable bio-based materials

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-15 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameVärmebearbetningsbara hållbara biobaserade material
  • CodeTRA255
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTRACKS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • DepartmentTRACKS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 97148
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0123 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 3.7 c3.8 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second 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

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

In addition to the general requirements to study at advanced level at Chalmers, necessary subject or project specific prerequisite competences (if any) must be fulfilled. Alternatively, the student must obtain the necessary competences during the course. The examiner will formulate and check these prerequisite competences.

The student will only be admitted in agreement with the examiner.

Aim

The aim of the course is to provide a platform to work and solve challenging cross-disciplinary authentic problems from different stakeholders in society such as the academy, industry or public institutions. Additionally, the aim is that students from different educational programs practice working efficiently in global multidisciplinary development teams.

The aim of the course is to convey knowledge about bio-based materials, their structure, manufacture and use in industry.

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


Valid for all Tracks courses:
  • critically and creatively identify and/or formulate advanced architectural or engineering problems
  • master problems with open solutions spaces which includes to be able to handle uncertainties and limited information.
  • lead and participate in the development of new products, processes and systems using a holistic approach by following a design process and/or a systematic development process.
  • work in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate in teams with different compositions
  • show insights about cultural differences and to be able to work sensitively with them.
  • show insights about and deal with the impact of architecture and/or engineering solutions in a global, economic, environment and societal context.
  • identify ethical aspects and discuss and judge their consequences in relation to the specific problem
  • orally and in writing explain and discuss information, problems, methods, design/development processes and solutions
  • fulfill project specific learning outcomes
Course specific:
  • Describe the structure of lignocellulosic materials (forest/agriculture) and advanced characterization tools
  • Explain the melt processability challenges for (forest/agriculture) biobased materials
  • Reflect on the industrial perspective needed to scale up processing of bio-based materials
  • Explain advantage of using bio-based materials vs stated societal regulation

Organisation

The course is run by a teaching team.
The main part of the course is a challenge driven project. The challenge may range from being broad societal to profound research driven. The project task is solved in a group. The course is supplemented by on-demand teaching and learning of the skills necessary for the project. The project team will have one university examiner, one or a pole of university supervisors and one or a pole of external co-supervisors if applicable.

Tracks-theme: Sustainable Production

The course consists of four major tasks and supporting lectures and lab work.
Task 1) Present a report on:
What makes a materials thermoplastic and why is cellulose fibers not?
How can thermoplasticity be determined?
Make an interview with predefined companies around their experiences and challenges using thermoplastic materials
Task 2) Identify one challenge with the lack of thermoplasticity for lignocellulose materials and present how this challenge can be overmastered
Task 3) Perform work (lab or theoretical) to master this challenge
Task 4) Write and present orally a summary report for industrial partners

Literature

Relevant literature is retrieved and acquired by the students as a part of the project.

Examination including compulsory elements

Team tasks and project. Report and presentation

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.