Characterization of Polymers, Elastomers & Composites Course | IIT Kharagpur
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 275 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy and Material science & Mining Engineering |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Science of Materials: A Deep Dive into Polymer, Elastomer, and Composite Characterization
In the world of advanced materials, understanding the intricate relationship between structure, properties, and performance is paramount. Polymers, elastomers, and composites form the backbone of modern industries—from automotive and aerospace to healthcare and consumer goods. For professionals and students aiming to excel in this field, a systematic understanding of characterization techniques is not just beneficial; it's essential. This is where the comprehensive course "Characterization of Polymers, Elastomers and Composites" comes into play.
Designed and instructed by a leading expert from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, this 12-week program offers a rigorous, hands-on exploration of the analytical tools that unlock the secrets of material behavior.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Santanu Chattopadhyay
The course is led by Prof. Santanu Chattopadhyay, a distinguished professor at the Rubber Technology Centre, IIT Kharagpur. With a rich academic and research background, Prof. Chattopadhyay brings unparalleled expertise to the classroom.
- Education: Ph.D. (Rubber Technology, IIT Kharagpur), Postdoctoral research at Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Western Ontario, Canada.
- Research Focus: Fracture of elastomeric composites, smart rubber composites, biomaterials, polymer nanocomposites, viscoelastic behavior, and polymer processing.
- Credibility: Authored 170+ research articles, 12 book chapters, several patents, and has guided over 22 PhD scholars to completion.
His deep industry and academic insights ensure the course content is both theoretically sound and highly relevant to real-world challenges.
Course Overview: What Will You Learn?
This undergraduate/postgraduate level course is structured to take you from fundamental concepts to advanced applications. It is meticulously laid out over 12 weeks to ensure a progressive and thorough learning experience.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Core Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1-2 | Introduction to structure-property-process correlations in polymers, elastomers, and composites. |
| Week 3 | Polymer identification using chemical techniques as per Indian & International standards. |
| Week 4-5 | Fundamentals & applications of UV-Vis and Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy for analysis. |
| Week 6 | Photoacoustic (PAS), Raman, Atomic Absorption, and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Spectroscopy. |
| Week 7 | Principles and applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy. |
| Week 8 | Thermal Analysis: TGA, DSC, DMA for life prediction, degradation kinetics, and reverse engineering. |
| Week 9 | X-Ray Techniques: XRD, XPS, XRF for crystallinity and surface analysis. |
| Week 10-11 | Microscopy: Optical, AFM, SEM, FESEM, and HRTEM with practical case studies. |
| Week 12 | Chromatography, DETA, Quantification Methods, Reverse Engineering, and Recent Advances. |
Who Should Enroll?
This course is specifically designed for:
- Students: 3rd/4th Year UG and 1st/2nd Year PG/PhD students in Polymer Science, Rubber Technology, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Metallurgy, or related fields.
- R&D Professionals: Personnel working in industrial R&D divisions who wish to deepen their analytical skills.
- Prerequisites: A high school-level understanding of Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. For professionals, a UG/PG degree in a relevant field is expected.
Industry Relevance and Support
The curriculum is built with direct input from and relevance to major industries. The course enjoys support from leading global and Indian companies, including:
- Core Industries: Tata Steel R&D, Reliance, Tata Chemicals, Asian Paints, Pidilite.
- Automotive & Tyre: CEAT, JK Tyres, Apollo Tyres, Michelin, BKT.
- Specialty Chemicals: Evonik, Momentive, Saint Gobain, Birla Carbon, Himadri Chemicals.
- Government Labs: Various allied defense laboratories of the Government of India.
This broad industry endorsement underscores the course's practical value and its direct application in solving contemporary material challenges.
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Correlate the molecular and mesoscale structure of materials with their macroscopic properties.
- Select and apply appropriate chemical and spectroscopic techniques (IR, NMR, UV) for material identification and analysis.
- Interpret data from thermal analysis (TGA, DSC) to predict material life and stability.
- Utilize X-ray diffraction and surface analysis techniques (XPS, SIMS) for crystallographic and surface characterization.
- Operate principles of advanced microscopy (SEM, TEM, AFM) to analyze morphology and microstructure.
- Apply characterization knowledge to solve real-world problems in compounding, modification, and reverse engineering.
Essential Reference Books
The course draws from authoritative texts to provide a solid foundation:
- Kemp, W. - Organic Spectroscopy
- Litvinov, V.M. & De, P.P. - Spectroscopy of Rubbers and Rubbery Materials
- Characterization Analysis of Polymers - Wiley
- Goldstein, J.I. et al. - Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis
- Cullity, B.D. - Elements of X-ray Diffraction
"Characterization of Polymers, Elastomers and Composites" is more than just a course; it's a career investment. Whether you're a student aspiring to enter the high-demand field of material science or an R&D professional seeking to enhance your analytical prowess, this program offers the knowledge, skills, and industry perspective needed to innovate and lead. Under the guidance of Prof. Santanu Chattopadhyay, you will gain the expertise to not just understand materials, but to characterize, analyze, and engineer them for the future.
Enroll Now →