Introduction to polymer science. Polymer synthesis: Step-growth polymerization, chain growth polymerization and controlled free radical polymerization. Molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Mechanical property relationships: Visco-elastic properties and thermo-mechanical properties of polymers. Polymer morphology: Intermolecular forces, crystalline and amorphous phases, cross linking. Copolymers: Homopolymer, graft, alternating and random copolymers. Polymer density. Mechanical properties: Strain, stress, toughness, modulus. Polymer gels. Thermal properties: Melting point, glass transition temperature, degradation, crystallization. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties. Electrical properties. Polymer characterization: Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM)Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dielectric strength, surface resistivity