Dr. Tristan Clemons Assistant Professor of Polymer Science Course Purpose: To provide entry-level chemists and engineers with a background in the synthetic approaches and rational of polymer chemistries integral for the coatings industry. Course Description: This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to polymer chemistry designed for participants with a basic background in chemistry, but still a beginner to the intricacies of polymer chemistry – the backbone of all coating formulations. This course will cover polymer nomenclature, types of polymers, synthetic approaches (e.g. step growth, emulsion, ring opening, and radical polymerization), and the associated practicalities required of the chemist to conduct these polymerizations. Participants will learn how the synthetic approach can result in control of polymer parameters such as monomer conversion, molecular weight, dispersity, and architecture, while also demonstrating the calculations that allow the chemist to predict, plan, and understand these important polymer properties. Finally, this content will be framed utilizing current examples of how this directly applies to solving real-world problems within the coatings industry. Who should attend: Don’t know the difference between an epoxide and polyurethane? Then this course is for you. We will cover the fundamentals of polymer synthesis, including the terminology, synthetic approaches, and practicalities of polymer chemistry for coatings in a collaborative and fun 2-day course. A great introduction or refresher for someone who has had limited exposure to polymer chemistry in their training.
