| CODE | TET1010 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Polymer Studies for Technology | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Technology and Entrepreneurship Education | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This unit is an introduction to material properties and processes concerning polymers. The unit presents information such as: a) different types of natural and synthetic polymers and how they can be classified; b) synthesis and macro-properties of synthetic polymers or plastics e.g. phase behaviour, degradation, physical/mechanical properties, optical properties etc; c) the processing of polymers e.g. injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, calendering, vacuum forming, 3D-printing etc ; d) procurement of polymeric raw material; e) the re-cycling of polymeric products; f) applications of polymers in consumer / engineering / medical / clothing and artistic products. Study-Unit Aims: 1. To develop a working knowledge of polymers, their workability and application within design (both technological and artistic); 2. To develop knowledge about diverse technological processes used to work polymers in small and large industries; 3. To provide students with opportunities to design products with polymers. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1. Recognize and classify different types of polymers; 2. Predict the reaction of the material when this is subject to different conditions such as physical forces, thermal, chemical and ageing parameters amongst others; 3. Describe and explain diverse production processes involved in the processing of polymers for specific applications; 4. Describe and explain diverse processes for the re-cycling of polymeric products; 5. Describe some human psycho-physiological properties of polymers e.g. psychological properties of colour, translucency and surface texture in polymeric products. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: 1. Be familiar with local markets for the procurement of raw material and be able to justify the selection of material sources in terms of quality, price, availability, after sales service etc.; 2. Use a variety of hand tools and machines to work polymers e.g. vacuum former, 3D-printer, line-bending, CAD-CAM etc.; 3. Analyse and critique products where polymers are used. Analytical criteria include both technological functional features and artistic/aesthetic features; 4. Design and make products with polymers. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - BIEHLER, J. 2014. 3D Printing with Autodesk: Create and Print 3D Objects with 123D, AutoCAD and Inventor, Que Publishing. - CLINE, L. S. 2014. 3D Printing with Autodesk 123D, Tinkercad, and MakerBot, McGraw-Hill. - LEFTERI, C. 2006. Plastics 2 (Materials for Inspirational Design). - THORNBURG, D., THORNBURG, N. & ARMSTRONG, S. 2014. The Invent to Learn Guide to 3D Printing in the Classroom: Recipies for Success, Constructing Modern Knowledge Press. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Co-requisite Study-unit: TET1002 | ||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Independent Study, Lecture, Practical & Tutorials | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Lawrence Farrugia |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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