*** Please note, each row and course# listed below is a separate, complete course. ***

Polymer Science for Engineers

Course# Date Time Location
044-1194 04/01/2025 - 04/03/2025 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Microsoft Teams
044-1195 05/06/2025 - 05/08/2025 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Microsoft Teams
044-1196 08/13/2025 - 08/15/2025 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Microsoft Teams
Cost: $1,200 USD
Online Registration
CEU's: 1.6
Instructor: Dr. Erol Sancaktar

Course Overview

This 3-day course presents the basic concepts of polymer science and polymer engineering relevant for process engineers, product engineers, design engineers, rubber compounders, chemists, laboratory managers, R&D scientists, technical service representatives and material suppliers. It provides an overview of polymer materials, thermoplastic and thermoset polymers, polymer polymerization methods, copolymerization, block and graft copolymers, mechanical properties and morphology of polymers in glassy, rubbery and viscous melt states and the relationship between polymer molecular structure and glass transition and melting temperatures. This course also provides introduction to rubber elasticity, rubber technology, thermoplastic elastomers and viscoelastic properties of polymers including creep, stress relaxation and dynamic mechanical properties. The flow properties of polymer melts and the polymer processing methods of extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming and rotational molding are also discussed.

Online Course Requirements

We want you to have a great experience participating in our remote (online) courses, and for that, you’ll need the right equipment and internet connection.

Minimum needs are:

  • A broadband internet connection that has at least a 2 Mbps upload and download speed.
  • A computer (PC or Mac) that can support the latest web browser versions.
  • At least 4 GB of RAM and adequate hard drive space.
  • A microphone and a speaker.
  • International Students: For virtual (online) courses, an additional fee will be assessed to cover the cost of shipping the professional binder (presentation slides), to your address. The cost of international shipping can be significant.

For more information, visit our Online Course Requirements webpage.

Instructor Biography:

Dr. Erol Sancaktar received his Ph.D. (Eng. Mechanics) and M.S. (Mech. Eng.) degrees from Virginia Tech. He is a Fellow of ASME and has served as Chair of ASME Tech. Committee on Reliability Stress Analysis, and Failure Prevention (1997-2008, 2013-present). He served as Associate Editor for the ASME J. Mech. Design (1995-2006) and Medical Devices (2006-2013). He was a faculty member at the Mechanical Eng. Dept. at Clarkson University during 1978 to 1996 before joining Univ. Akron in 1996 as Professor of Polymer Eng. He was also appointed Professor of Mechanical Eng. in 2009. Dr. Sancaktar currently holds the title, Professor Emeritus at the University of Akron’s School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering (since August 2020). Prof. Sancaktar edited 25 books and Journal Special Issues, authored 111 refereed journal articles, 30 articles in books edited by others, including 2 chapters in ASM Engineered Materials Handbook, as well as two chapters in Handbook of Adhesion Technology by Springer. He delivered 244 technical presentations and has 4 patents. Dr. Sancaktar organized 30 Conferences.

Dr. Sancaktar served in 15 different Federal Government review panels and served as reviewer for numerous scientific research proposals, journal articles and books. He had over 18 consulting assignments, sabbatical and extended visits with various government agencies (i.e., NASA, U.S. Army), industrial establishments (Kendall Co., Chrysler Corp.), foundations and legal agencies, not counting one-day consulting/advising visits. Among these expert services was an over-billion-dollar case and expert witness testimony at the U.S. International Trade Commission (2017).

Prof. Sancaktar and co-workers obtained ~ $4M Research and Grant support with 56 projects during 1980-2022. These include 8 National Science Foundation grants (~ $1.1M and spanning over 25 years), 3 Teaching Grants and 20 projects sponsored by Industry.

Course Content Overview:

Section Titles:

  1. Introduction to Polymer Materials
  2. Thermal Transitions in Polymers – Glass and Melting
  3. Polymerization Mechanisms – Free Radical Addition Polymerization
  4. Ionic Polymerizations – Anionic, Cationic, Stereospecific Ziegler-Natta and Metallocene Coordination Catalysts and Ring Opening Polymerization
  5. Copolymerization and Copolymers (Random, Block and Graft)
  6. Methods for Polymer Molecular Weight--Molecular Mass: Osmometry, Light Scattering, Solution Viscosity and Molecular Weight Distribution (Size Exclusion Chromatography)
  7. Commodity Thermoplastics - Polymer Film Processes and Properties
  8. Step–Growth Polymerization
  9. Engineering & High-Performance Thermoplastics and Plastic Compounds
  10. Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Fiber Spinning Processes (Ultrahigh Modulus Fibers)
  11. Thermoset Engineering Plastics and Polymer Composites
  12. Thermoset Elastomers, Rubber Technology and Thermoplastic Elastomers
  13. Polymer Solutions, Polymer Blends, and Ionomers
  14. Rheological Properties of Polymers
  15. Polymer Processing - Extrusion and Injection Molding
  16. Polymer Processing - Blow Molding, Thermoforming, Rotational Molding, Compression and Transfer Molding

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions or need more information about this course, please contact:

Penelope Pinkston
330-972-8303
penelo1@uakron.edu


TO REGISTER

Online Registration

OR

Registration Form

Registration information: Registration shall remain open until posted as closed on the course listing on this site.

Registrations must be guaranteed by check, a purchase order number or a credit card, otherwise the registration will not be processed. Checks should be made payable to "The Akron Polymer Technology Services Training Center" and must include a copy of your completed registration form. Course fees are due before attending.

All registrations—whether by online, phone, fax or mail—will be confirmed and considered binding and subject to all cancellation policies. If you do not receive a confirmation prior to the class, please call The Akron Polymer Technology Services Training Center to verify your registration.

Course fee includes classroom instruction, instructional materials, parking permits, continental breakfast, lunch, beverages and refreshment breaks. Travel and hotel accommodations are not included.

ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED AND ON A FIRST-COME BASIS. EARLY REGISTRATION IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!

Visit our registration webpage to view our cancellation/withdrawal policy.