- UCAS course code
- F206
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Master of Engineering (MEng)
MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Nanomaterials
Duration: 4 Years Full Time
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: F206 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Scholarships available
Accredited course
- Typical A-level offer: AAA including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: AAB including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: ABB including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36 points overall with 6,6,6 at HL, including specific requirements
Course unit details:
Polymer Physics & Physical Properties
| Unit code | MATS42802 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 15 |
| Unit level | Level 7 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
The unit builds on prior knowledge of polymer physics and properties and introduces some new advanced physical properties to characterise elastomers and new polymers.
Aims
The unit aims to:
- Provide an understanding of the principles underlying the structure property relationship of polymers and illustrate their applications as multifunctional materials, including polymer solar cells.
- Show how basic physical principles can be used to explain the behaviour of industrial materials and how they are processed and tailored to optimise their performance
Learning outcomes
A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Intellectual skills
- Practical skills
- Transferable skills and personal qualities
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, online learning resources (Blackboard), group and small-group tutorials, non-assessed problems/quizzes, assessed coursework, recommended textbooks, web resources, past exam papers, electronic supporting information (Blackboard), feedback sessions, revision sessions. Formative feedback will be available during synchronous sessions and model solutions to problems/quizzes. Non-assessed questions will form the basis of group tutorials in which the answers will be discussed. Feedback will also be given on the outcomes of assessments.
Knowledge and understanding
- Identify the origin and nature of rubbery network elasticity and its mechanical description.
- Apply the principles and underlying theories of common techniques for molecular and thermal characterisation of polymers.
- Interpret and evaluate the results of various advanced polymer characterisation techniques and processing.
- Design strategies for materials characterisation for specific applications
- Design multi-functional polymers for specific applications including polymer solar cells
Intellectual skills
- Apply knowledge of polymer structure and properties to explain the outcomes of polymer processing
- Predict the mechanical properties of network polymers.
- Explain the multi-functionality of “new” polymers.
- Predict performance of polymer solar cell based on the structures of the polymer components used for construction.
Practical skills
Develop the ability to manipulate equations to calculate material properties
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Demonstrate improved logical reasoning, problem solving and ability in applied mathematics
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 70% |
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 30% |
Feedback methods
Feedback given (Written and verbal)
Recommended reading
- “Introduction to Polymers”, R.J. Young and P.A. Lovell, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, 2011 (or 2nd Edition, CRC Press, 1991)
- Other books, chapters or articles as indicated by lecturers
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 30 |
| Practical classes & workshops | 6 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 114 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Brian Saunders | Unit coordinator |