Course syllabus

Course-PM

KPO041 Surface Engineering lp3 VT20 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Contact details

Examiner: Andreas Dahlin adahlin@chalmers.se

Additional lecturers: Tiina Nypelö tiina.nypelo@chalmers.se, Martin Andersson martin.andersson@chalmers,se, Guillermo Toriz (University of Guadalajara), Kenth Johansson (RISE)

Project leaders: Bita Malekian malekian@chalmers.se, Marika Gugole gugole@chalmers.se, John Andersson anjohn@chalmers.se, Justas Svirelis svirelis@chalmers.se

Supporting staff: Anne Wendel anne.wendel@chalmers.se (XPS), Anders Mårtensson am@chalmers.se (AFM)

Course purpose

This course focuses on understanding, analyzing and controlling the properties of solid surfaces. It provides knowledge about techniques for altering surface properties. The science and technology of surfaces and interfaces are playing an increasingly important role, for instance in the polymer and pulp/paper industry. The material surface can be modified by various techniques in order to control surface properties and to give chemical functionality or responsiveness. Applications are also found in biology and medicine (biointerface science).

The course is to a high extent built on problem-based learning. Each student will select a project which aims to modify surface properties or to chemically functionalize a surface. The projects do not have any expected outcomes and are part of real ongoing research activities at Chalmers. In this manner, students create value for others, i.e. the researchers in the field (not necessarily only those at Chalmers). Students together in a project group will under supervision of a project leader select a strategy for surface modifications, perform surface modifications and then analyze with suitable techniques the effect of the surface modifications. The project ends with an oral presentation and a written report.

Schedule

TimeEdit

Course literature

Lecture slides (mandatory material).

Chapters from:

• Polymer Surfaces, From Physics to Technology, F. Garbassi, M. Morra, E. Occhiello, Wiley, New York, ISBN 0471971006
• Soft Condensed Matter, R.A.L. Jones, Oxford master series in condensed matter physics 2002, ISBN 0198505906
• Plasmonic Biosensors, A.B. Dahlin, Advances in Biomedical Spectroscopy, IOS Press 2012, ISBN 9781607509653
• Intermolecular and Surface Forces, J.N. Israelachvili, Academic Press 2011, ISBN 9780123751829
• Piezoelectric Sensors, C. Steinem, A. Janshoff, Springer 2007, ISBN 9783540365686
• Surface Wetting, K.Y. Law, H. Zhao, Springer 2016, ISBN 9783319252124

Selected review articles from the scientific literature.

Course design

Description of the course's learning activities:

• Lectures: The lectures are not traditional in all respects. Slides will be available already before the lecture and students are encouraged to look at them as they are quite self-explanatory. During the lecture, questions are encouraged and there will be breaks now and then where students get to solve a problem or watch a demonstration. Active participation during the lectures is encouraged although not required.
• Exercises: Example exercises are provided with the lectures. Students are also encouraged to look at previous exams (which include answers).
• Laboratory work: This is organized as projects. There is no "conventional" laboratory work.
• Projects: The project work in groups is a central part of the course and corresponds to 40% of the grading.
• Supervision: PhD students will act as supervisors in the projects.
• Feedback: PhD students will provide feedback on the written project report. The examiner provides feedback on the oral presentation of the project.
• Seminars: The projects are presented at a seminar close to the end of the course.

The course material will be available on Canvas. Communication with teachers is best done by email.

Participation in the oral presentation of the project work is mandatory.

Changes made since the last occasion

The lecture on barrier materials has been removed since it is not focused on surface properties. Instead, the overview of surface forces is now a full lecture and the first scheduled class is only dedicated to introduction and practical details.

More time will be spent on presenting the projects before the selection. The idea is that all students should be aware of all projects even if they naturally focus on their own. Some form of student peer review will also be done on the project reports.

Learning objectives and syllabus

After completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe the origin of surface properties and surface forces
• describe dynamics of polymer surfaces and its consequences on surface phenomena
• use methods for analyzing surface adsorption
• select suitable analytical techniques to characterize the chemical composition of a surface
• plan and perform some surface modifications
• understand the effect of surface chemistry and surface morphology on wetting properties
• understand how corona and plasma treatments are performed
• make water repellent surfaces or improve wetting
• understand basic aspects of adhesion and apply them in the field of coatings, adhesives and composites
• understand interactions between proteins and surfaces
• suggest surface treatments to improve biocompatibility

The student will also develop generic skills and get experience on:

• dealing with uncertainty and unexpected outcomes
• collaborating in a group towards a common goal
• searching for information relevant for the task at hand

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen:

Study plan

Examination form

The course finishes with a written exam, corresponding to 60% (4.5 credits) of the course. The maximum points is 60 and the guideline is that 24 points are required to pass. No books or formula collections are allowed on the exam but there is no need to memorize equations etc. since they are given in the text.

The project work is also graded and on an individual basis to the extent it is possible. (You may not get the same score as the other group members.) The maximum score is 40 points and contains several aspects such as dedication, experimental work, writing and presenting. A minimum of 16 points is needed for passing. Missing the deadline for the project report may result in a lowered score.

You final grade on the course is influenced by both the project work and the exam, with the guidelines 80 points for grade 5, 60 points for grade 4 and 40 points for grade 3.

It is possible to get the project work registered (3 credits) but only with the grade "passed". Even if you do this, your actual project score is still recorded and will still influence your total grade in the course.