Chemical Engineering 583 - PolymerProcess&Sustainability

This course is designed to introduce learners to the wide field of polymer processing as well as the complex issues of sustainable plastic production and environmental remediation. Class sessions will cover a variety of polymer processing techniques (including extrusion, injection molding, fiber spinning, compression molding, and composites manufacturing), as well as their direct applications in various industries (consumer goods, biomedical devices, transportation, construction, agriculture, etc.) and implications for sustainability (energy usage, carbon emissions, material degradation, and other environmental outcomes). The course will also review the existing plastic recycling infrastructure in the United States and cover broader themes such as engineering ethics, environmental justice, workers? rights, and more through a critical science studies lens. This course has no formal course prerequisites, but previous coursework relating to polymers, process design, environmental issues, or social inequality is recommended.

Open to CHEM-ENG Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate students only. Suggested pre-requisites (not required): PSE 501 and/or coursework in process design, environmental issues, or social inequality