Beside metals and ceramics, the study of polymers has currently became a cornerstone of materials science and engineering. Polymers have the capacity to solve most of the world's complex problems like Water purification, energy research, oil extraction and recovery, advanced coatings, myriad biomedical applications, building materials, and electrical applications - virtually no field of modern life would be possible without polymeric materials. A Polymer Materials Science and Engineering will provide you with a strong basis in the wide range of issues around structural and functional polymers. This multidisciplinary course is proposed in conjunction with the School of Chemistry allowing you to gain a rich understanding of both traditional commodity plastics and specialty polymers with increasing application in the bio medical and pharmaceutical field, and in electronics and nanotechnology.

The field of Nanotechnology is one of the most popular areas for current research and development in basically all technical disciplines. This obviously includes polymer science and technology which include microelectronics (which could now be referred to as nanoelectronics). Other areas include polymer-based biomaterials, nanoparticle drug delivery, miniemulsion particles, fuel cell electrode polymer bound catalysts, layer-by-layer self-assembled polymer films, electrospun nanofibers, imprint lithography, polymer blends and nanocomposites. Even in the field of nanocomposites, many diverse topics exist including composite reinforcement, barrier properties, flame resistance, electro-optical properties, cosmetic applications, bactericidal properties. Nanotechnology is not new to polymer science as prior studies before the age of nanotechnology involved nanoscale dimensions but were not specifically referred to as nanotechnology until recently. Phase separated polymer blends often achieve nanoscale phase dimensions; block copolymer domain morphology is usually at the nanoscale level; asymmetric membranes often have nanoscale void structure, miniemulsion particles In the large field of nanotechnology, polymer matrix based Nano composites have become a prominent area of current research and development. Exfoliated clay-based Nano composites have dominated the polymer literature but there are a large number of other significant areas of current and emerging interests like  biomedical applications, electrical/electronic/optoelectronic applications and fuel cell interests. The important question of the “nano-effect” of nanoparticle or fiber inclusion relative to their larger scale counterparts is addressed relative to crystallization and glass transition behavior

Polymer chemistry is a multidisciplinary science that deals with the chemical synthesis and chemical properties of polymers which were considered by Hermann Staudinger as macromolecules. According to IUPAC recommendations, macromolecules refer to the individual molecular chains and are the domain of chemistry.

Industrial polymer chemistry focuses on the end-use application of products, with a smaller emphasis on applied research and preparation. Polymer chemists need to adopt a business outlook in their work and understand the commercial applications of the polymers they are developing and the needs of the market they are serving. They often find themselves working with the sales and marketing divisions of their companies to develop products that meet specific customer’s needs.

The global market for engineering resins, and polymer alloys and blends was estimated at more than 22 billion pounds in 2012, is projected to increase to 23 billion pounds in 2013, and to 28.6 billion pounds by 2018 after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4%.

Biodegradable polymers are a specific type of polymer that breaks down after its intended purpose to result in natural byproducts such as gases (CO2, N2), water, biomass, and inorganic salts. The extensive usage of biodegradable polymers in medical devices is expected to push the global biodegradable polymers market. Chemically, a polymer containing a double-carbon (C-C) backbone resists degradation, whereas hetero-atom-containing polymer backbones (C-X) are biodegradable. The increase in environmental pollution due to the use of petroleum-based polymers, which are non-biodegradable in nature, has led to the growing demand for biodegradable polymers. Increasing awareness about the environment has intensified the focus on the biodegradable polymers market.

Growing prices of crude oil, which is the base source for the production of petroleum-based polymers, has also helped in pushing the global biodegradable polymers market. The report cites that the use of degradable polymeric biomaterials for biomedical applications has opened new opportunities for the overall market.

Radiation processing is widely employed in plastics engineering to enhance the physical properties of polymers, such as chemical resistance, surface properties, mechanical and thermal properties, particle size reduction, melt properties, material compatibility, fire retardation, etc.

Chemical reactions can be initiated by radiation at any temperature, under any pressure and in any phase (gas, liquid or solid) without the use of catalysts. The irradiation of polymeric materials with ionizing radiation (gamma rays, X rays, accelerated electrons, ion beams) leads to the formation of very reactive intermediates. These intermediates can follow several reaction paths, which result in rearrangements and/or formation of new bonds. The ultimate effects of these reactions can be the formation of oxidized products, grafts, scission of main chains (degradation) or cross-linking. The degree of these transformations depends on the structure of the polymer and the conditions of treatment before, during and after irradiation. Good control of all of these processing factors facilitates the modification of polymers by radiation processing.

Polymer composites are high-performance composites, framed using fabric reinforcement and shape memory polymer resin as the matrix. In consideration of shape memory polymer resin used as the matrix, these composites gains the potential to be easily engineered into variety of configurations when they are heated above their activation temperatures and will exhibit high strength and stiffness at lower temperatures. They can also be reheated and reshaped again without losing their  properties. Composites, the wonder materials are becoming an essential part of today’s materials due to the advantages such as low weight, corrosion resistance, high fatigue strength, and faster assembly. They are broadly used as materials in making aircraft structures, electronic packaging to medical equipment, and space vehicle to home building. The most useful materials used in our day-to-day life are wood, concrete, ceramics, and so on. Surprisingly, the most important polymeric composites are found in nature and these are known as natural composites. The connective tissues in mammals belong to the most advanced polymer composites known to mankind where the fibrous protein, collagen is the reinforcement. It functions both as soft and hard connective tissue. These separate constituents act together to give the necessary mechanical strength or stiffness to the composite part.

Polymer physics is the field of physics that studies polymers, their fluctuations, mechanical properties, as well as the kinetics. Polymer physics includes the physical properties, structure and dynamics of polymers (both synthetic and naturally occurring) in the form of semi-crystalline solids, glasses, elastomers, gels, melts, and solutions. Fundamental phenomena are of interest along with applications of polymers in technologies, such as optoelectronics, photovoltaics, coatings, composites, medicine, foods and pharmacy.

Protein polymers are abundant in biology, and a vast variety of different filaments can be found and Protein misfolding can lead to pathological polymerization in diseases from Alzheimer’s to Parkinson’s Synthetic polymers can be easily formed from peptides, and these are being studied for many reasons, from forming new biomaterials to drug delivery or imaging.

The demand for biobased polymers is expected to surge during the forecast period of 2015-2019 owing to the favorable regulatory outlook. Growing environmental concerns and stringent regulations that promote the use of environment-friendly and sustainable materials, along with growing consumer preference for green products, are fueling the growth of the market.

The global biomarkers market is expected to reach $45.55 Billion by 2020 from $24.10 Billion in 2015, at a CAGR of 13.58% between 2015 and 2020. Increasing healthcare expenditure & R&D spending and the increasing utility of biomarkers for diagnostics are expected to drive the market. Market growth will also be aided by the low cost of clinical trials in developing countries and new initiatives undertaken for biomarker research. On the other hand, the need for high capital investment, low benefit-cost ratio, poorly suited regulatory & reimbursement systems, and the high cost of tests and sample collection & storage are the major factors restraining the growth of this market.

Polymers are a highly versatile class of material which are found in all areas of engineering from avionics to biomedical devices and the development and implementation of these rely on polymer applications and data provided through rigorous testing. The applications of polymeric materials and their composites are still growing rapidly due to their low cost and ease of manufacture. This in turn fuels further advances in research and development. Better understanding of the materials properties in differing environments and temperature ranges is central to sourcing the correct polymer materials to suit the application.

Over the past three decades advanced polymer composites have emerged as an attractive construction material for new structures and the strengthening/rehabilitation of existing buildings and bridges. The techniques associated with the technology, analysis and design of polymer composites in construction are continually being researched and the progress made with this exciting material will continue at an ever- increasing rate to meet the demands of the construction industry.

 In terms of revenue, the global advanced polymer structures market was valued at US$ 7.47 Bn in 2013 and is expected to reach US$ 12.12 Bn by 2020, expanding at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2014 to 2020.