Polymers are substances joined by sequential chemical reactions. You see them as, for example, the vinyl siding of homes, rubber tires, nylon found in athletic wear and furniture and plastic bottles containing your favorite beverages. As a polymer testing laboratory technician, or a type of chemical technician, you lend scientific knowledge and methods to the manufacture of many common and diverse products used by consumers, industry and government.
Testing for New Products
As a technician, you perform chemical and physical tests to help a manufacturer develop new polymers and other materials. Your laboratory work will include mixing ingredients, chemical reactions and testing the polymer’s durability and tensile properties -- the product's ability to withstand tension and elasticity. You record the measurements and results of the tests and share them with a chemist, chemical engineer, mechanical engineer or other scientist on the research or production team. The experiments can lead to production methods such as vulcanization, whereby natural rubber is heated by sulfur and transformed into a more durable and elastic product.
As a technician, you are involved in quality control. Specifically, you test sample raw materials and finished goods for compliance with company, industry and governmental standards. Quality control also includes cleaning the laboratory and the equipment and instruments used therein, ordering needed supplies and disposing of trash and other waste.
When you’re heating rubber with sulfur or working with other substances such as petroleum, you must have personal protective equipment as part of your defense against health problems. Standard laboratory attire includes goggles, laboratory coats, gloves, masks, earplugs and a face shield. Also, you may need to cover your head and feet. Even with protective gear, you might face risks of exposure to chemicals such as isocyanates. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, isocyanates may cause skin and mucous membrane irritation, tightness in the chest, asthma and breathing difficulties; a polymer laboratory could exacerbate a person’s already existing respiratory problems. The EPA reports that isocyanate exposure could increase the risk of cancer.
High School Diploma, Plus
Generally, a polymer laboratory technician or other chemical technician can qualify with an associate degree from a community college. Your job prospects may improve if you have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, applied science or a related field. If you enter a post-secondary program in polymer or plastics technology or similar discipline, you should have taken high school algebra, chemistry and physics.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, chemical technicians in the resin, synthetic rubber and filaments manufacturing industry earned an average salary of $54,490 in 2013. This translates to $26.20 per hour. Your salary or hourly pay will depend on your employer, education and experience.
- Iowa State University: College of Engineering: Materials Science and Engineering: Lab 6 -- Tensile Testing
- Ivy Tech Community College: Career Information: Chemical Technology Occupations
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Chemical Technicians -- What They Do
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages -- 19-4031 Chemical Technicians
- Penn State University -- Pennyslvania College of Technology:Plastics and Polymer Technology (PS)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Safety and Health Topics: Isocyanates
- NDT Educational Resource Center: Tensile Properties
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Chemical Technicians -- Work Environment
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Chemical Technicians -- How to Become One
- Carnegie Mellon University: Leonard Gefland Center: Natural vs. Synthetic Polymers
- University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Newsroom: Making Football Helmets Safer to Prevent Concussions
- University of Wisconsin: Chemical of the Week -- Polymers
- University of Vermont: PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) -- Gloves, Lab Coats & Respirators
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