POLYMER SCIENCE DIVISION


Division of polymer science was founded in 1955 by Academician, Professor Valentin A. KARGIN.
Now the head of the division is full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Victor A. KABANOV.
The division consists of 5 laboratories:

GENERAL COURSE: MACROMOLECULE COMPOUNDS
(Prof. V.A. KABANOV, Prof. V.P. SHIBAEV)

The fundamental notions and definitions (polymer, olygomer, macromolecule degree of polymerization). Subject and purposes of polymer science. Molecular mass distribution of polymers. Classification of polymers: by origin, by chemical composition, by structure of macromolecules. Types of polymers. Configuration and conformation isomery. Macromolecules in solutions. Polyelectrolytes. Concentrated solutions, gels, colloid dispersities of polymers. Thermodynamics of polymer solutions. The equation of state of polymer solutions. Solid polymer structure and mechanical properties. The chemical reactions with macromolecules. Chemical and structural modification of solid polymers and devices. Synthesis of macromolecules. Radical, cationic and anionic polymerization. Polycondensation. The modern tendency and new trends in polymer science.

KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF POLYMER SYNTHESIS
(Dr. M.B. LATCHINOV)

The thermodynamic aspects of polymerization and polycondensation. Thermodynamics of the monomer-polymer conversion. The radical polymerization and copolymerization. The reactivity of monomers and radicals. Stereochemical aspects of radical polymerization. Anionic and cationic polymerization. The coordinated ionic polymerization. Polymerization by using of C=O, C=N, C=S bounds. Polymerization of heterocyclic monomers. Polymerization in structurated systems. Polycondensation and polyaddition. The preparation of high-modulus and thermo-resistant polymers. The matrix synthesis of macromolecules. Molar mass and molar-mass distribution and the correlation with mechanism of reaction.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS
(Prof. A.L. VOLYNSKII)

Properties of solids. Elastic and plastic deformation. Thermodynamics of high elastic (rubbery state) deformation (energetic and entropy component). Thermo-elastic inversion. Kinetic theory of elasticity. Ideal and real elastomers. Relaxational properties of polymers. Spectrum of relaxation times. Dynamic mechanical properties. Thermoformation and mechanical loss. Hysteresis phenomena. Temperature-time superposition. Mechanical properties of glass polymers. Specificity of polymer glasses. Plastification of polymers. Yielding-elastic deformation. Yielding point vs. temperature and rate deformation. Mechanical properties of crystalline polymers. Cold stretching. Destruction of polymers. Polymer composites. Application of crazed polymers.

POLYELECTROLYTES AND BIOPOLYMERS
(Prof. A.B. ZEZIN)

Classification of polyelectrolytes. Thermodynamics of polyelectrolytes solutions. Saline and unsaline solutions. Membrane equilibrium. Donnan's equilibrium. Electrostatic free energy of polyions. Models of polyions. Linear polyelectrolytes with flexible macromolecules; polyelectrolytes swelling effects. Binding of low-molecular ions by polyions. Potentiometric titration. Synthetic and native polyampholytes. Isoelectric and isoionic points. Phenomena of transfer in polyelectrolytes solutions. Biopolymers. The models of biomacromolecules. Theory and methods of investigation of conformational transitions. Intermacromolecular reactions.

POLYMER STRUCTURE
(Prof. V.I. GERASIMOV)

Anisotropy of macromolecules and intermacromolecular forces. Configuration of macromolecules. Flexibility and coformation of macromolecules. Structure of amorphous polymers. Gloubles and fibrilles. Statistical thermodynamics of semi-hard macromolecules. The methods of investigation of polymer structure. Structure of crystalline polymers. Specificity of polymer crystallization. Isomorphism. Isothermic crystallization. The mechanism of melting of polymers. Nucleousformation. Monocrystals, defect crystals. Recrystallization of polymers. Spherolites. Optical properties of crystals. Structure of crystal oriented polymers. The structural modification of crystal polymers.

THE CHEMICAL REACTIONS WITH MACROMOLECULES
(Dr. O.V. NOAH)

The reactivity of functional groups of macromolecules and their low molecular analogous. Macromolecular effects in reactions with macromolecules. The mathematical description of macromolecules microstructure. Methods of description of microstructure and heterogeneity of polymer products of irreversible polymer analogous reactions. Experimental assaies of microstructure of macromolecules: PMR, NMR-C-13, chemical methods. Inverse tasks (problems). The chemical reactions without changing of polymerization degree; intramolecular reactions; intermolecular reactions; block- and graft-copolymerization; polymer destruction. The chemical reaction with macromolecules for creation of bio-medical polymers and polymer liquid crystals.

THE POLYMER SOLUTIONS
(Prof. V.A. KASAIKIN)

The thermodynamics of mixtures. The nature of polymer solutions. Isolated macromolecule. Flexibility of macromolecule; persistent, length; Kuhn segment. Thermodynamic theory of polymer solutions. Phase equilibrium in polymer solutions. Volume effects in dilute solutions. Concentration-temperature conditions of polymer solutions. The technology of polymer processing with polymer solutions. The methods of investigation of macromolecules in solutions: osmometry; viscosimetry; light scattering; diffusion in dilute solutions; high-speed sedimentation; gel-penetration chromatography; ESR; spin (marks) and spin-probe.


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