Study Overseas

Many countries throughout the world have or are developing a strong manufacturing base, producing a range of products including household goods, electrical, do-it-yourself, and automobile components. The majority of these contain plastics and rubber parts or casings, and often plastics are used to package these products. Plastics and rubber, together with adhesives, resin and fibres, form a group of materials called polymers. Polymers have special properties which make them very useful in the modern world.

The majority of polymers are derived from oil chemicals, although there are some naturally occurring polymers such as natural rubber and cellulose. The manufacture of products from polymers requires a knowledge and understanding of a broad range of principles and technologies. For example, to make a product from a plastic, one must choose which plastic to use from a very 16 range of plastics available, and then decide which processing method is suitable to produce the desired shaped product. Once these have been decided, it will often be necessary to design and make a mould for the products, and then ensure this mould functions effectively. This does not include the considerable expertise required to design the product in the first place to ensure maximum strength, ease of function and an aesthetic shape.

All these skills and expertise are required by the people who use plastic and rubber to manufacture products, and these people are known as 'Polymer Engineers'. The majority of polymer engineers train by studying a course in polymer engineering. This can be at degree level, such as a BEng in Polymer Engineering. Alternatively, for those who already have a degree in science or engineering and wish to pursue a career in the polymer and allied industries, polymers can be studied at postgraduate level through MSc courses. There are opportunities to study polymer engineering at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in the United Kingdom.

When selecting a university in the UK to study polymer engineering, it is wise to research into the course content and practical facilities available. This information can be obtained from prospectuses, web pages, and by contacting the university departments direct. General information on polymer engineering materials courses can also be obtained from the Institute of Materials at 1 Carlton House Terrace, WC1 in London. There will often be people in your own country who have studied polymer engineering, who will be able to provide helpful advice.

Studying in the UK is a stimulating and fulfilling experience. Most British universities have a considerable population of international students, and expertise in meeting the needs of students from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. Along with the commitment to providing students with quality higher education, universities offer an increased level of support to international students. Living and studying in a foreign country can have its problems, and support and advice is available from the international office and student services within the university. In addition, universities will usually also provide language support, help with accommodation, visas and other matters.

For those intending to take up a career in polymer engineering, it is important to obtain an understanding of both the properties of polymer materials and the processing methods used to shape them into the products we see in our everyday lives. There are several universities in the UK who have the full range of polymer processing equipment, on a small production scale, and who can therefore provide hands-on experience of manufacturing with polymers and testing the products produced. These universities generally have long-established courses in polymers, and include Loughborough, Manchester and North London universities. Other universities cover specialist areas of polymer, such as Brunel, with its MSc course in Packaging Technology. These universities will provide specialist degrees and/or MSc courses in polymer engineering or polymer technology which will include opportunities to use specialist polymer engineering equipment. There are also other courses in polymer technology - for example, Lancaster, which is centred on a strong polymer chemistry group.

Specialist courses will cover the properties and applications of the range of plastics and rubber materials used in the manufacture of goods, and also the engineering aspects of designing products and processing the materials into shaped products. Such processing methods include injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, extruded blown film and vacuum moulding. The courses should also provide opportunities to use equipment for mixing polymers with the range of additives that can be used to enhance their properties.

Opportunities also exist to study polymer engineering on a European or international basis, with exchanges sometimes possible. A European Masters is currently being run jointly by the Universities of North London, Pau and Zaragoza in 'Polymers, Polymer Processing and Product Manufacture'.

As well as those courses which specialise in polymer engineering, there are several universities offering courses that include aspects of polymer engineering in materials technology or engineering courses. The proportion of polymer engineering in those courses will vary, and the opportunities for hands-on experience of polymer processing equipment are often limited. These will depend upon the history of the materials studies at the universities, many of these courses having evolved from metallurgy courses.

Author

Michael O'Brien

Head of the School of Polymer Technology

University of North London