Undergraduate Course Catalog

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26.1	Plastics Safety Lecture	Credits: 0
26.2	Plastics Safety Lecture	Credits: 0
26.201	Polymer Materials I	Credits: 3
This two-semester sequence details the chemistry, properties, processing and design characteristics of both thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers. The structure/property relationships of amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers will be reviewed. Representative end-use applications of commodity, engineering, and specialty plastics will be discussed, along with updated comments on contemporary industry-related problems, including feedstock availability and alternatives, regulatory affairs, and environmental issues.
26.202	Polymer Materials II	Credits: 3
Continuation of 26.201.
26.203	Introduction to Polymer Materials, Processing and Testing	Credits: 3
26.210	Professional Development Seminar	Credits: 1
The Professional Development Seminar is designed to provide students with the necessary structure, resources, and support to successfully secure and engage in their first Plastics Cooperative Education experience. Through a variety of interactive teaching methodologies and assignments, students will participate in a sequence of learning activities including self-assessment, industry research, and the development of co-op learning objectives, the job search process (resume-writing, strategic interviewing, professional networking) and professional behavior and presentation skills. The goal of the course is to assist each student in developing a sound plan of action to successfully participate in the cooperative education experience.
26.211	Engineering Mechanics	Credits: 3
Equilibrium of structures subjected to forces and moments. Area and mass moments of inertia,. Internal forces, shear and bending moments acting on loaded structures, including cantilevers, beams, trusses, bridges and machine frames. Friction.
26.212	Part and Rigid Body Mechanics	Credits: 1
This course covers the fundamentals of Newtonian mechanics, including kinematics, motion relative to accelerated reference frames, work and energy, impulse and momentum, 2D and 3D rigid body dynamics. The course pays special attention to applications in plastics engineering including introductory topics in material and energy balance.
26.215	Plastics Processing Engineering Laboratory I	Credits: 1
The first in a series of four hands on plastics laboratory courses to study plastics testing and processing methods. Experiments are designed so that the student will understand the theory of polymer conversion techniques by the interaction between process variables and materials. This initial semester course focuses on physical property testing of plastics. Some of the conversion methods studied in the remaining course sequence include injection molding, rotomolding, thermoforming, compounding, blow molding and mixing.
26.216	Plastics Process Engineering Laboratory II	Credits: 1
Continuation of 26.215.
26.218	Introduction to Design	Credits: 2
Introductory course developing the fundamentals of design principles in plastics applications. Commercial design software will be used.
26.247	Thermodynamics	Credits: 3
The principles of thermodynamics, a study of the first and second laws of thermodynamics with applications to classic power generation and refrigeration systems. The concepts of entropy, reversibility, irreversibility and availability.
26.306	Methods of Experimental Analysis	Credits: 3
Basic concepts dealing with the interpretation of experimental engineering results. Deterministic vs. stochastic processes. Elementary probability theory and common distributions. Graphical analysis and mathematical modeling. Statistical parameters and their applications to quality control, and tests of significance. Design of experiments (DOE) for process development and optimization.
26.310	Co-op Assessment I	Credits: 1
The primary goal of this seminar is to assist students in the overall assessment of their overall cooperative education experience. Through facilitated small group discussion, individual consultation and hands on practice, students will have an opportunity to identify and articulate their technical and professional skills, and explore how these skills and their co-op employment might be translated and leveraged into future work environments and their academic program at UML.
26.314	Fluid Flow	Credits: 3
Statics and dynamics of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian fluids. Bernoulli equation, flow in closed conduits, measurement of fluid flow, external flow, rheology of melts, control volume, temperature and entrance effects. Applications of flow equations to plastics processing.
26.315	Plastics Process Laboratory III	Credits: 1
Continuation of 26.216.
26.316	Plastics Process Engineering Laboratory IV	Credits: 1
Continuation of 26.315.
26.348	Heat Transfer	Credits: 3
Theory and application of steady and transient heat conduction, convection, and radiation. Heat transfer in plastics processing. Analysis of heat exchangers.
26.373	Plastics Mold Engineering I	Credits: 3
Course work entails the introduction to the fundamentals of plastics mold and die engineering with the objective to develop an overall appreciation of the mold engineer's job. Emphasis is placed on an integrated approach to mold engineering which includes the interrelationships of polymeric materials, engineering principles, processing, and plastics product design, mold and die design/construction, and design communications. Laboratory consists of the actual design of an old or mold components with emphasis on CAD and computerized Material Database. A semester project is required. Junior status or permission of instructor.
26.377	Plastics Process Engineering I	Credits: 3
The first course in a two semester sequence to study the fundamental principles of polymer processing, i.e., the conversion of the polymeric materials into useful articles. Correlation between process variables, material characteristics and parts design are studied to determine the functional relationships between them.
26.378	Plastics Process Engineering II	Credits: 3
A continuation of 26.377.
26.381	Polymer Science for Engineers I	Credits: 3
An introduction to polymer science with a focus on making polymers. Topics covered include the chemistry, kinetics, and statistics of step and chain polymerizations and copolymerizations, polymerization processes. Industrially relevant polymers and commercial polymerization processes will be highlighted, with coverage of the health and safety aspects of various approaches to the preparation of various polymers given.
26.382	Polymer Science for Engineers II	Credits: 3
An introduction to polymer science with a focus on polymer properties and behavior. Topics covered include analytical techniques (chemical, thermal, and microstructural analysis of polymers, measurement of molecular weight distribution, etc.), as well as the underlying physical, rheological and solution properties that make these techniques possible.
26.383	Polymer Science I Lab	Credits: 1
Synthesis of polymers by step growth, condensation, suspension and free radical emulsion polymerization techniques. Fundamental concepts in polymerization kinetics and mechanism will be covered as well as structure-property considerations and polymerization with functional groups.
26.384	Polymer Science II Lab	Credits: 1
Polymer characterization techniques including molecular weight distribution by gel permeation chromatography, crystallinity and order by differential scanning calorimetry; polymer morphology and surface properties, and spectroscopic (nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman, infrared) and mechanical (tensile, dynamic mechanical, rheological) techniques will also be covered.
26.403	Mechanical Behavior of Polymers	Credits: 3
Topics covered in this course include linear viscoelasticity, creep, stress relaxation, dynamic behavior, hysteresis, stress-strain response phenomena, principles of time-temperature superposition, rubber elasticity, failure and fracture mechanisms for polymers, and the effect of additives on mechanical behavior. Real life design examples are used to demonstrate the topics and concepts as much as possible.
26.404	Process Control	Credits: 3
Basic principles of control systems used with plastics processing equipment. Included are instrumentation, signal conditioning, data acquisition, feedback control, process monitoring, data reduction, and SPC/SQC.
26.406	Polymer Structure, Properties and Applications	Credits: 3
The fundamental relationships between molecular structure, properties and end-use applications of plastics materials will be explored in detail. Molecular structural features include chemical composition, molecular size and flexibility, intermolecular order and bonding, and supermolecular structure. Properties include processability, mechanical, acoustic, thermal, electrical, optical and chemical properties, price, and balance of properties. Applications include rigid solids, flexible solids, foams, film and non-plastic applications.
26.409	Senior Research Plastics I	Credits: 3
Individual research projects in plastics chemistry, properties, processing, products, and industry organization. Students will review the existing literature, obtain materials and equipment, plan and carry out research programs and submit final reports for publication.
26.410	Coop Assessment II	Credits: 2
This seminar is designed to support and assist students in the continued assessment of their cooperative education experience. Through a deepening of their work in Co-op assessment 1, students well review their overall performance in the cooperative education program, while continuing to demonstrate their technical and professional skills through written work and public presentations to multiple audiences. It is expected that students will clearly define their future academic and career goals, enhance their professional networks, and develop a future plan to support their engineering aspirations.
26.415	Capstone Design I	Credits: 1
A two-semester capstone laboratory project course. Student groups design, perform, analyze, report, and defend a research project which incorporates the processing and characterization of plastics materials. Supporting practicums on literature searches, plastics processing, basic plastics testing techniques, and data analysis are included in the course.
26.416	Capstone Design II	Credits: 1
Continuation of 26.415.
26.417	Honors Capstone Design II	Credits: 1
A section of capstone laboratory for honor students only. Honors student groups design, perform, analyze, report and defend a research project which incorporates the processing and characterization of plastics materials. Supporting practicum on literature searches, plastics processing, basic plastics testing techniques, and data analysis are included in the course.
26.418	Product and Process Design	Credits: 3
Theoretical principles and sound engineering practice involved in the design of new end products made from polymers, applying the total systems approach to the balance between product design, choice of materials, tool design, and process techniques, as they affect competitive choices for commercial success. A semester project is required.
26.450	Nanoscale Transport Phenomena for Manufacturing Nanodevices	Credits: 3
An interdisciplinary course taught by faculty from the Chemical, Mechanical and Plastics Engineering Departments, who have special knowledge in nanoscale fluid mechanics and heat transfer. The course on nanoscale transport phenomena constitutes a bridge between existing fluid and heat transfer courses in multiple disciplines and emerging nanoscale science and engineering concepts to reflect the forefront of nanomanufacturing. The course is designed to incorporate recent advances in manufacturing polymer based nanodevices. Key issues of the implementation and maintenance costs for fabrication will be addressed. Hands-on laboratory experiments will be performed to complement the lectures with the ultimate goal of designing and building a complete nanodevice at the end of the course. The course will prepare graduates for employment focused on designing and manufacturing nano/microfluidic systems, lab on a ship devices, electronic devices, medical devices and other emerging technologies.
26.491	Summer Cooperative Education I	Credits: 0
This zero credit course is designated for undergraduates who are participating in the Plastics voluntary co-op curricular track, and have successfully secured their first, full-time 3 month co-op employment. The industrial experience is designed to provide students the opportunity to develop and enhance their technical and professional skills. All students registered for this course will develop and submit written learning objectives, participate in employer and employee performance assessments, and complete a written report and/or presentation of their co-op experience. This course is open only to students who have submitted a co-op contract to the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education.
26.492	Summer Cooperative Education II	Credits: 0
This zero-credit course is designated for undergraduates who are participating in the Plastics voluntary co-op curricular track and have already successfully completed 26.491 and their first, full-time 3 month co-op employment. The industrial experience is designed to provide students with the opportunity to further advance their professional and technical skills. All students registered for this course will develop and submit written learning objectives, participate in employer and employee performance assessments, and complete a written report and/or presentation of their co-op experience. This course is open only to students who have submitted a co-op contract to the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education.
26.493	Semester Cooperative Education	Credits: 3
This three credit course is specifically designated for undergraduates who are engaged in full-time co-op employment during either of the academic semesters. The 6 month industrial experience is designed to provide students with the opportunity to significantly advance their professional and technical skills. All students registered for this course will develop and submit written learning objectives, participate in employer and employee performance assessments, and complete a written report and/or presentation of their co-op experience. This course is open only to students who have submitted a co-op contract to the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education. Special Note: Enrollment in this course is mandatory if students expect to retain their full-time student status and remain eligible for health insurance and student loan deferment.
26.494	Summer Cooperative Education	Credits: 3
This three credit course is designated for upperclassmen who have not previously participated in full-time co-op summer employment. The 3 month industrial experience is designed to provide students the opportunity to develop and enhance their technical and professional skills. All students registered for this course will develop and submit written learning objectives, participate in employer and employee performance assessments, and complete a written report and/or presentation of their co-op experience. This course is open only to students who have submitted a co-op contract to the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education.
26.495	Industrial Experience II	Credits: 0
This zero-credit course is designated for upperclassmen who have previously participated in full-time semester and/or summer co-op employment and have already received three technical elective credits through an Industrial Experience course. This industrial experience is designed to provide students the opportunity to further enhance and develop their technical and professional skills. All students registered for this course will develop and submit written learning objectives, participate in employer and employee performance assessments, and complete a written report and/or presentation of their co-op experience. This course is open only to students who have submitted a co-op contract to the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education.