E19-14: Polymers: An Introduction and Characterization Techniques

One-Day Course
Sunday, Nov. 17; 8:30am – 5:00pm

Dr. Diep Nguyen, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Polymers have many applications in a variety of industries including the pharmaceutical industry, especially in coatings or in packaging of medicines; however, analysts working with polymer do not always have a formal training in the subject. This course is designed to give an introduction to polymeric materials and their potential uses. The course will also include a survey of various analytical methods to characterize polymers such as molecular weight determination, thermal analysis, spectroscopy, determination of Tg and rheology measurements.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This one-day course will benefit analysts, QA and QC managers, regulators, and researchers, who are not familiar with polymers and who would like to have an intensive introduction to polymers. Participants
will gain a better understanding of polymers and of polymer characterization techniques.

TOPICS
1. Introduction to Polymer
2. Polymer Chain Dimensions
3. Molar Mass Measurement
4. The Glass Transition Temperature, Tg
5. Thermal and Rheology Analysis
6. Spectroscopy methods for Polymer Characterization
7. Structure – Property Relationship in Polymer

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Dr. Diep Nguyen is the Industry Professor at Illinois Tech (IIT) in Chicago, IL. She is also the Director of the Master of Science Program in Analytical Chemistry. After obtaining her Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from McGill University, Dr. Nguyen worked as a beamline scientist at the Brookhaven National Laboratories. She then joined PPG Company, working as a research chemist in the company’s R&D center for seven years. Dr. Nguyen joined Illinois Tech in 2006, serving as the Director of the Master of Science Program in Analytical Chemistry and as an Industry Professor. Dr. Nguyen’s research areas are in Polymer Characterization. Her publications and presentations cover a range of polymer characterization techniques. She is the recipient of the Excellent Teaching Award of the College of Science at Illinois Tech; she is presently one of the Teaching Fellows of the College of Science at Illinois Tech.