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The Department of Plastics Engineering at UMass Lowell has a long history as a leader in the area of Plastics Engineering Education. Today, plastics materials are being used extensively in the manufacture of new products. As a result, there is a need for graduate education in this specialized area of study. The Department of Plastics Engineering now offers a stand alone, four course Graduate Certificate in "Plastics Materials". This certificate program is designed for students who have attained a Bachelor’s degree and want more plastics materials background, but are not ready to commit to completion of a Master’s degree. Admission to the program is open to candidates with a B.S. in Engineering or a related field. The graduate record exam (GRE) is not required for admission. Courses previously used for another Plastics Certificate may not be used for a second Plastics Certificate. However, certificate courses may be applied to appropriate graduate degrees if students want to continue their education. The Plastics Engineering Department makes every attempt to offer many of these courses during the evening so that students having full time jobs can complete the certificate program. Graduates who have already completed these course requirements can receive a retroactive certificate. For more information, go to http://plastics.uml.edu. Go to www.uml.edu/grad to apply for this certificate program.
Required Courses:
26.544 Advanced Plastics Materials (3 credits) Descriptive course centering on the historical development of polymeric systems, their synthesis, structure, properties, and applications. Included will be a brief discussion on the typical additives employed to make plastics molding compounds. See note below *
26.506 Polymer Structure, Properties, and Applications (3 credits) Relationships between polymer structure (chemical composition, molecular weight and flexibility, inter-molecular order and bonding, supermolecular structure) and practical properties (mechanical, acoustic, thermal, electrical, optical and chemical) and applications.
Elective Courses (choose two of the following):
26.505 Polymer Structure II (3 credits) Continuation of 26.506.
26.511 Polymer Blends and Multiphase Systems (3 credits) Physical, mechanical and thermal properties, preparation, and testing of polymer blends, alloys, and multiphase systems. Thermodynamic theories and experimental determination of miscibility of polymer blends. Structure-property relationships for multiphase systems and interpenetrating networks.
26.512 Porous Polymers (3 credits) Preparation, structure, and properties of porous polymers. Includes both practical systems in development and production and novel techniques of more fundamental interest and / or aimed at more specialized applications. Existing and potential applications for these materials will also be discussed, and related back to their structure and properties.
26.513 New Plastics Materials (3 credits) Critical examination of the new plastics appearing in the research literature and being field-tested for commercialization in the plastics industry.
26.532 Adhesives and Adhesion (3 credits) Adhesive joining of engineering materials. Surface chemistry, theories of adhesion and cohesion, joint design, surface preparation, commercial adhesives, rheology, equipment, testing, service life, and reliability.
26.533 Coatings Science and Technology I (3 credits) This course reviews the basic principles of design and formulation of waterborne, high-solids, powder resins used for the development of solvent-less “green” coatings and the use of bio-derived resins, mostly based on soybean oil and other renewable raw materials. The mechanisms and methods of curing and of polymerization for polymers used as coatings will also be covered.
26.540 Commercial Development of Polymeric Systems (3 credits) The concepts of industrial marketing will be reviewed for research, pricing strategies, and product planning for market segmentation, place (distribution)-promotional activities. Topics will include creating a demand, selling, and servicing base resins and additives.
26.542 Colloidal Nanoscience & Nanoscale Engineering (3 credits) This course will cover the fundamentals of nanoscale colloidal processes, intermolecular forces and electrostatic phenomena at interfaces, boundary tensions and films at interfaces, electrostatic and London forces in disperse systems, interactions and self-assembly of polymer colloids, nanoparticles, surfactants and biomolecules. Applications include microfluidics; lab-on-a-chip; nano-biocolloids, vesicles, colloidosomes, polymersomes and polymer hydrogel microcapsules for drug delivery and nanostructured materials and devices.
26.553 Polymers in Medicine I (3 credits) The concepts necessary to analyze the use of materials for implants and biomedical devices will be introduced. The role of surface and bulk material properties in the use of materials in soft tissue, blood and hard tissue will be examined.
26.559 Elements of Packaging (3 credits) Packaging methods, materials, and container designs. Analysis of container manufacturing methods for paper, plastics, cans, cardboard and their specific properties.
26.565 Engineering Thermosetting Resins (3 credits) Provides an in-depth review of the major families of engineering thermosetting resins: phenolics, amines, polyesters, epoxies, silicones, and various polyurethanes systems. Emphasis is chemistry, physical properties and processability, and the effect of polymer modifiers (additives) on the functional properties of molding compounds. Market sectors served and related processing/fabrication technologies used in reinforced plastics/composites are reviewed.
26.566 Polymeric Material Systems Selection (3 credits) Prerequisite: 26.544. This upper-level undergraduate/graduate bridge course investigates the selection processes to be followed in screening material candidates, and specifying a material of record. Emphasis is placed on prioritizing performance requirements, contrasting candidates, reviewing processing, and post-fabrication schemes. Based on actual case studies.
26.580 Polymer Science I (3 credits) An introductory course in polymer science and technology including basic classification and molecular structures, synthesis, solution properties and molecular weight determination, solid-state properties including both the amorphous and crystalline states, degradation mechanisms, polymer reaction, network formation, copolymerization and blends/alloys.
26.589 Polymer Nanocomposites (3 credits) This course deals with the preparation, characterization, behavior and properties of polymer nanocomposites, with an emphasis on the most commercially relevant systems to date, as well as new developments in the field. The major preparation routes to these materials are discussed, with an emphasis on the importance not only of dispersion but of true thermodynamic compatibility in these systems. From there, the focus shifts to describe the consequences of nanocomposite structure in trms of both molecular behavior and macroscopic properties, as informed by the most up-to-date research literature available. Case studies of specific systems will serve as opportunities to gain deeper understanding, and the safety issues surrounding nanoparticle handling will also be presented. Finally, current research by invited lecturers working in the field will be presented as time permits.
26.596 Plastics, Elastomers and Additives from Renewable Resources (3 credits) This course will provide an introduction to plastics, elastomers and additives obtained from renewable resources. Processes that involve conversion (chemically/enzymatically) of naturally occurring precursors (monomers) obtained from renewable resources to plastics and elastomers will be reviewed. Brief discussion of processing, degradation and recycling of these materials will also be included.
TOTAL: 12 Credits
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Contact Information |
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Professor Stephen McCarthy Department of Plastics Engineering UMass Lowell Ball Hall Room 207
Tel: 978-934-3417 Fax: 978-934-3065 Email: stephen_mccarthy@uml.edu Department of Plastics Engineering Main Office Ball Hall Room 204 Tel: 978-934-3420 Fax: 978-458-4141 |
The Registrar’s Office UMass Lowell Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30AM to 5PM
TEL 978-934-2550 800-656-GRAD FAX 978-934-4076 TTY 978-934-2367 Graduate Admissions Office: TEL 978-934-2373 FAX 978-934-4058 Email: graduate_school@uml.edu |
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To apply for this certificate program, go to UML Graduate Admissions.
For courses and descriptions, go to the UML Graduate Catalog.