UNIT - 1
Research Methodology:
Introduction, Meaning of Research, Objectives of Research, Types of Research, Research Approaches, Significance of Research, Research Methods versus Methodology, Research and Scientific Method, Research Process, Criteria of Good Research, Problems Encountered by Researchers in India. Defining the Research Problem: Research Problem, Selecting the Problem, Necessity of Defining the Problem, Technique Involved in Defining a Problem.
UNIT - 2
Reviewing the literature:
Place of the literature review in research, Bringing clarity and focus to research problem, Improving research methodology, Broadening knowledge base in research area, Enabling contextual findings, Review of the literature, searching the existing literature, reviewing the selected literature, Developing a theoretical framework, Developing a conceptual framework, Writing about the literature reviewed. Research Design: Meaning of Research Design, Need for Research Design, Features of a Good Design, Important Concepts Relating to Research Design, Different Research Designs, Basic Principles of Experimental Designs, Important Experimental Designs.
UNIT - 3
Design of Sample Surveys:
Design of Sampling: Introduction, Sample Design, Sampling and Non-sampling Errors, Sample Survey versus Census Survey, Types of Sampling Designs. Measurement and Scaling: Qualitative and Quantitative Data, Classifications of Measurement Scales, Goodness of Measurement Scales, Sources of Error in Measurement, Techniques of Developing Measurement Tools, Scaling, Scale Classification Bases, Scaling Technics, Multidimensional Scaling, Deciding the Scale. Data Collection: Introduction, Experimental and Surveys, Collection of Primary Data, Collection of Secondary Data, Selection of Appropriate Method for Data Collection, Case Study Method.
UNIT – 4
Data Preparation:
Data Preparation Process, Some Problems in Preparation Process, Missing Values and Outliers, Types of Analysis, Statistics in Research. Descriptive Statistics: Measures of Central Tendency, Measures of Dispersion, Measures of Skegness, Kurtosis, Measures of Relationship, Association in case of Attributes, Other Measures.
UNIT - 5
Sampling and Statistical Inference:
Parameters and Statistic, Sampling and Non- Sampling Errors, Sampling Distribution, Degree of Freedom, Standard Error, Central Limit Theorem, Finite Population Correction, Statistical Inference.
UNIT - 6
Testing of Hypotheses:
Hypothesis, Basic Concepts Concerning Testing of Hypotheses, Testing of Hypothesis, Test Statistics and Critical Region, Critical Value and Decision Rule, Procedure for Hypothesis Testing, Hypothesis Testing for Mean, Proportion, Variance, for Difference of Two Mean, for Difference of Two Proportions, for Difference of Two Variances, P-Value approach, Power of Test, Limitations of the Tests of Hypothesis. Chi-square Test: Test of Difference of more than Two Proportions, Test of Independence of Attributes, Test of Goodness of Fit, Caution in Using Chi Square Tests.
UNIT – 7
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA):
The ANOVA Technique, Basic Principle of ANOVA, One way ANOVA, Two way ANOVA, Latin – square Design, Analysis of Co- Variance, Assumptions in Co-Variance.
UNIT – 8
Linear Regression Analysis:
Dependent and Independent Variables, Simple Linear Regression Model, Multiple Linear Regression Model, Problem of Multicolinearity, Qualitative Explanatory Variables. Factor Analysis: The Mathematical Basis, Important Methods of Factor Analysis, Rotation in Factor Analysis, R – Type and Q – Type Factor Analysis, Merits and Demerits of Factor Analysis.
UNIT – 9
Probability:
Random Experiments, Sample Spaces, Events, The Concept of Probability, The Axiomsof Probability, Theorems on Probability, Assignment of Probabilities, Conditional Probability, Theorems on Conditional Probability, Independent Events, Bayes’Theorem. Random Variables, Discrete Probability Distributions, Distribution Functions for RandomVariables, Distribution Functions for Discrete Random Variables, Continuous Random Variables, Graphical Interpretations, Joint Distributions Independent Random Variables, Change of Variables, Probability Distributions of Functions of Random Variables, Convolutions, Conditional Distributions.
UNIT - 10
The Binomial Distribution, Properties of the Binomial Distribution, The Normal Distribution, Properties of the Normal Distribution, Relation Between Binomial and Normal Distributions, The Poisson Distribution, Properties of the Poisson Distribution, Relation Between the Binomial andPoisson Distributions, Relation Between the Poisson and Normal Distributions, The Hypergeometric Distribution.
Reference Books:
(1) Research Methodology Methods and Techniques, C.R. Kothari, Gaurav Garg, New Age International Publishers,4th Edition, 2019.
(2) Research Methodology a step-by-step guide for beginners, Ranjit Kumar, SAGE Publications Ltd, 3rd Edition, 2011. [For Unit -2, Reviewing the Literature]
(3)Probability and Statistics, Murray R. Spiegel, Schaum’s Outline Series, McGraw-Hill, 4th Edition, 2013.[For Unit -9 and Unit – 10]
Part II
Unit 1
Chemistry of high polymers:
Monomers, functionality, degree of polymerizations, classification of polymers, glass transition, melting transition, criteria for rubberiness, polymerization methods: addition and condensation; their kinetics, metallocene polymers and other newer techniques of polymerization, copolymerization, monomer reactivity ratios and its significance, kinetics, different copolymers, random, alternating, azeotropic copolymerization, block and graft copolymers, techniques for copolymerization-bulk, solution, suspension, emulsion.
Unit 2
Polymer Characterization:
Solubility and swelling, concept of average molecular weight, determination of number average, weight average, viscosity average and Z-average molecular weights, polymer crystallinity, analysis of polymers using IR, XRD, thermal (DSC, DMTA, TGA), microscopic (optical and electronic) techniques.
Unit 3
Synthesis and properties of thermoplastics:
Commodity and general purpose thermoplastics: PE, PP, PS, PVC, Polyesters, Acrylic, PU polymers. Engineering Plastics: Nylon, PC, PBT, PSU, PPO, ABS, and Fluoropolymers
Unit 4
Synthesis and properties of thermosetting polymers:
PF, MF, UF, Epoxy, Unsaturated polyester, Alkyds. Natural and synthetic rubbers: Recovery of NR hydrocarbon from latex, SBR, Nitrile, CR, CSM, EPDM, IIR, BR, Silicone, TPE.
Unit 5
Polymer blends:
Difference between blends and composites, their significance, choice of polymers for blending, blend miscibility-miscible and immiscible blends, thermodynamics, phase morphology,
Unit 6
Polymer composites:
Polymer alloys, polymer eutectics, plastic-plastic, rubber-plastic and rubber-rubber blends, FRP, particulate, long and short fibre reinforced composites.
Unit 7
Polymer Technology:
Polymer compounding-need and significance, different compounding ingredients for rubber and plastics, cross-linking and vulcanization and vulcanization kinetics.
Unit 8
Polymer rheology:
Flow of Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, different flow equations, dependence of shear modulus on temperature, molecular/segmental deformations at different zones and transitions. Measurements of rheological parameters by capillary rotating, parallel plate, cone-plate rheometer. Visco-elasticity-creep and stress relaxations, mechanical models, control of rheological characteristics through compounding, rubber curing in parallel plate viscometer, ODR and MDR.
Unit 9
Polymer processing:
Compression molding, transfer molding, injection molding, blow molding, reaction injection molding, extrusion, pultrusion, calendaring, rotational molding, thermoforming, rubber processing in two-roll mill and internal mixer.
Unit 10
Polymer testing:
Mechanical-static and dynamic tensile, flexural, compressive, abrasion, endurance, fatigue, hardness, tear, resilience, impact, toughness. Conductivity-thermal and electrical, dielectric constant, dissipation factor, power factor, electric resistance, surface resistivity, volume resistivity, swelling, ageing resistance, environmental stress and cracking resistance.