• Basic information
• Learning outcomes
• Contents
• Assessment
• Workload

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Identify the basic degradation mechanisms of polymers.

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. Define and manipulate advanced concepts of Mechanical Engineering in a specialized way
   2. Review the literature critically pertaining to his/her research projects, and connect the earlier literature to his/her own results,
   3. Design and conduct research projects independently
   4. Effectively express his/her research ideas and findings both orally and in writing
   5. Be aware of issues relating to the rights of other researchers and of research subjects e.g. confidentiality, attribution, copyright, ethics, malpractice, ownership of data

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Seminar/presentation
   3. Term paper
2. List the relationship between the stability and physical properties of polymers and their chemical structure.

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. Define and manipulate advanced concepts of Mechanical Engineering in a specialized way
   2. Review the literature critically pertaining to his/her research projects, and connect the earlier literature to his/her own results,
   3. Design and conduct research projects independently
   4. Effectively express his/her research ideas and findings both orally and in writing
   5. Be aware of issues relating to the rights of other researchers and of research subjects e.g. confidentiality, attribution, copyright, ethics, malpractice, ownership of data

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Seminar/presentation
   3. Term paper
3. Identify the action mechanism of antioxidants and stabilizers.

   Contribution to Program Outcomes

   1. Define and manipulate advanced concepts of Mechanical Engineering in a specialized way
   2. Review the literature critically pertaining to his/her research projects, and connect the earlier literature to his/her own results,
   3. Design and conduct research projects independently
   4. Effectively express his/her research ideas and findings both orally and in writing
   5. Be aware of issues relating to the rights of other researchers and of research subjects e.g. confidentiality, attribution, copyright, ethics, malpractice, ownership of data

   Method of assessment

   1. Written exam
   2. Seminar/presentation
   3. Term paper

Contents
Week 1:	Polymer Recycling and Degradable Polymers
Week 2:	Main Degradation Mechanism
Week 3:	General Analysis Techniques
Week 4:	Ageing Tests
Week 5:	Relationships between Chemical Structure-Durability and Physical Properties
Week 6:	Oxidation Mechanism
Week 7:	Thermal Degradation of Polymers
Week 8:	Thermal Degradation of Polymers, Mid-Term Exam
Week 9:	Photodegradation of Polymers
Week 10:	Degradation by High Energy Rays, Project 1
Week 11:	Biodegradation, Project 2
Week 12:	Stabilization Mechanism, Project 3
Week 13:	Antioxidant Action Mechanism, Project 4
Week 14:	Thermal and Photo Stabilizers, Project 5
Week 15*:	-
Week 16*:	Final Exam
Textbooks and materials:	1. N.S. Allen, M. Edge, Fundamentals of Polymer Degradation and Stabilization, 1993
Recommended readings:	-
	* Between 15th and 16th weeks is there a free week for students to prepare for final exam.

Assessment
Method of assessment	Week number	Weight (%)
Mid-terms:	8	25
Other in-term studies:		0
Project:	10, 11, 12, 13, 14	50
Homework:		0
Quiz:		0
Final exam:	16	25
	Total weight:	(%)

Workload
Activity	Duration (Hours per week)	Total number of weeks	Total hours in term
Courses (Face-to-face teaching):	3	14
Own studies outside class:	5	14
Practice, Recitation:	0	0
Homework:	0	0
Term project:	10	5
Term project presentation:	0	0
Quiz:	0	0
Own study for mid-term exam:	10	1
Mid-term:	2	1
Personal studies for final exam:	12	1
Final exam:	2	1
		Total workload:
		Total ECTS credits:	*
	* ECTS credit is calculated by dividing total workload by 25. (1 ECTS = 25 work hours)