Topics: Advanced Polymers (January Term 2010)

Course Description

In pre-Columbian times, South American natives made use of tree sap and polymer chemistry to generate materials of unique physical properties. Today, synthetic polymer chemistry and engineering touches every aspect of modern life, and many current technical careers involve the technology the Mayans used to make rubber balls for their national sport. This class will build upon undergraduate knowledge of basic materials science by focusing in depth on synthetic polymer systems (i.e., plastics).  This class will be geared towards graduate and senior level undergraduate students in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Chemistry. The class will focus on the function of plastic and uses. The student will gain understanding of some basics of polymer chemistry, morphology, processing, and properties.  The student should have previous coursework in materials science or some practical working knowledge of materials science, although this is not a requirement.

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Haas 

Chris Haas received his bachelor’s and doctoral degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Since graduating in 1997, he has worked at 3M in Maplewood, MN.  Chris spent 5 years in 3M's Corporate Research Process Laboratory, where he worked on inventing novel ways to extrude polymers.  His research work included processing biodegradable/renewable resource polymers, foams, and oriented films.  Upon moving into 3M’s Security Systems Division in 2002, Chris began working on currency, passport, and identification card products, including novel currency substrates, passport security features, and card technologies.  He has seven issued patents, all involving advanced polymer systems.