A polymer course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of polymers, their synthesis, properties, processing, and applications. Specifically, courses often focus on basic polymer science concepts, molecular weight and distribution, polymerization techniques, and characterization methods. These courses also cover the relationship between polymer structure and properties, as well as various applications in different industries.

Source NPTEL

Prof: Abhijit P. Deshpande,

Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras.

Course suitable for

Is this course for you?

Perfect for

You work in Chemical or Pharmaceutical & Healthcare
You're a Chemistry & Chemical Science / Chemical & Process professional
You have 3+ years of hands-on experience in this field
You prefer self-paced learning you can revisit

Before you enrol

Advanced level — assumes working knowledge of Chemistry & Chemical Science
Self-paced video, 988 min — watch anytime

New to Chemistry & Chemical Science? Browse beginner courses →

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Course curriculum

The course is readily available, allowing learners to start and complete it at their own pace.

48 lectures16 hr 28 min

Conducting Polymers
21 min
Dielectric Response Part 1
31 min
Dielectric Response Part 2
33 min
Plasticity
21 min
Properties of Composites
19 min
Viscoelasticity
26 min
Thermal Response
27 min
Viscoelasticity | Characterization |
20 min
Viscoelasticity | Simple Models
19 min
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis
24 min
Damping Applications
24 min
Time Temperature Superposition
25 min
Impact & Energy Absorption
21 min
Testing for Applications
18 min
Properties of Blends
16 min
Biomimetic Polymers
15 min
Advanced Mechanics |
22 min
Viscoelastic Response
11 min
Polymer Packaging
22 min
Porous Polymers / Membranes
13 min
Polymer at Interfaces
23 min
Diffusion in Polymers
21 min
Compatibilizers
21 min
BioPolymer Applications
23 min
Adhesives and Paints
16 min
Dissolution & Recovery
20 min
Polymerization Kinetics
20 min
Polymerization Reactors
16 min
Polymer Processing | Part I
22 min
Polymer Processing | Part II
26 min
Polymer Processing | Part III
18 min
Flow Simulations
26 min
Processing for Recycling
21 min
Recycle | Up Down Cycling | Part I
14 min
Recycle | Up Down Cycling | Part II
9 min
Flow Behaviour | Rheology
22 min
Crosslinking
17 min
Conversion of Polymers
19 min
Rheology & Entanglement |
25 min
Rheological Models
22 min
Rheology & Processing
24 min
Adsorption and Leaching
18 min
Swelling of Polymers
19 min
Viscosity for Polymer Processing
18 min
Microplastics | Aerosols | Sediments
20 min
Biodegradation of Polymers
24 min
Biodegradable Polymers | Part 1
22 min
Biodegradable Polymers | Part 2 |
14 min

Opportunities that await you!

Career opportunities

✎ Where this fits — what comes before, what comes next

Frequently asked questions

Q: You're supporting tech transfer of a polymer tubing extrusion line into GMP production, and QA asks you to justify why ISO 14644 cleanroom classification still applies after resin scale-up. The search phrase your team keeps using is "ISO 14644 polymer extrusion particulate contamination during scale-up". Two CQAs moved outside PAR: gel count and surface particulate. What drives the requirement to reassess room class under ISO 14644 rather than relying on historical R&D data?

A: The hard boundary is 'operational state'. ISO 14644 ties classification to particle counts measured while equipment runs. Scale-up alters shear rate and melt fracture frequency, which can elevate airborne particles even if the room layout is unchanged.

Q: You're calculating density change after scale-up for a polyethylene melt used in injection molding. The exact phrase searched was "polymer melt density calculation after scale-up temperature change". Lab data shows density 0.74 g/cm³ at 180°C. Production runs at 220°C with thermal expansion coefficient 6.5×10⁻⁴ /°C. What density should you expect?

A: The hinge value is the 40°C delta. Applying volumetric expansion once gives ~2.6% volume increase, which drops density from 0.74 to roughly 0.72 g/cm³. Doubling the coefficient or ignoring phase behavior leads you astray.

Q: A nitrogen-blanketed polymerization reactor loses its oxygen analyzer during campaign. The long-tail phrase used internally is "polymer reactor nitrogen blanket oxygen analyzer failure risk". The interlock trips on pressure only. What hazard is NOT controlled once the analyzer fails?

A: The key threshold is oxygen concentration, not pressure. Pressure trips still protect MAWP, but they don't detect ppm-level oxygen ingress that can seed peroxide chemistry in reactive polymers.

Q: You're reviewing sustainability claims for recycled PET used in food-contact packaging. The phrase searched was "EFSA recycled PET food contact polymer contamination limits". Why does EFSA require a challenge test on surrogate contaminants rather than relying only on melt filtration data?

A: The boundary is molecular size. Filtration removes solids, not absorbed organics. EFSA focuses on diffusion and desorption behavior inside the polymer, which only a surrogate challenge demonstrates.