From Random Walks to Rubber: The Physics of Long Polymer Chains
Dr. Theodore W Burkhardt
Department of Physics, Temple University
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
4:00 PM, Roddy 261
ALL INVITED

ABSTRACT:

Polymers are macromolecules made up of many repeating units. They are of central importance in chemistry and biology, plastics and DNA being prominent examples. In solution a long, flexible polymer chain continually changes its shape due to thermal agitation, somewhat like a strand of spaghetti in a pot of boiling water. I will discuss some of the basic physical properties of long polymer chains, concentrating on "universal" properties that are independent of chemical details and apply to all polymers.