Plastic technology is concerned with research, development and operation processes for the manufacture of plastics.

Work

The field covers plastic technologies, plastic production, plastic processing, plastic mould technology, manufacture of various plastic products as well as marketing of plastic products. Polymer technology is concerned with polymer research and development, polymer processing and production, marketing, etc.

Some of the processes involved are compression, heat moulding, lamination, fabrication and vacuum formation. The production operations include arrangement of materials, study of specifications and the setting up of machines, tools and moulds for the batch process.

Plastics are basically polymer compounds derived from crude petroleum. The plastic and polymer industry is growing at a steady pace with the development of new technology. Biodegradable polyethylene products are now being developed in order to replace non-biodegradable plastic that causes environmental problems. The Polymer industry is also poised to grow with the increase in the refining capacity of the Indian oil sector.

Money

As a trainee technologist, you can earn from Rs.3,500 to Rs. 9,000 or more per month in the beginning of your career.

Job opportunities

Plastic and Polymer technologists can find employment in the following fields:

• Plastic processing companies

• Polymer production companies such as refineries

• Various plastic products manufacturing companies

• Polymer processing companies

• Various government agencies

• Research organisations.

Due to the widespread use of plastics there are ample employment opportunities in the plastic industry, manufacturing goods for households as well as industrial use.

Eligibility

You can enter this field with any one of the following qualifications:

A diploma in Plastic Technology/Plastic mould Technology, Polymer Technology, Rubber and Plastic Technology

A Bachelor's degree in Polymer engineering, Polymer Science and Chemical Technology

Chemical engineering with specialisation in Polymer Technology, or Plastic Technology,

BTech in Plastic and Rubber Technology

Postgraduate diploma in Plastic Engineering after a Bachelor degree in Mechanical/ Chemical /Production / Polymer Engineering

Postgraduate diploma in Plastic Processing Technology/Plastic Testing and conversion Technology/Plastic mould Design after a BSc with Chemistry/Physics as major subject.

Educational Institutes

Indian Institute of Technology (New Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, and Chennai)

Regional Engineering Colleges ( Warangal, Andhra Pradesh ; Silchar, Assam ; Jamshedpur, Bihar ; Surat, Gujarat ; Kurkshetra, Haryana; Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir; Surathkal, Karnataka ; Calicut, Kerala ; Visvesvaraya REC, Nagpur, Maharashtra ; Rourkela, Orissa ; Jaipur, Rajasthan ; Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu ; Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh ; Durgapur, West Bengal ; Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh ; Jalandhar, Punjab.)

Birla Institute of Technology (BITS) - (Pilani and Ranchi.)

Delhi College of Engineering, New Delhi.

University of Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh.

Jadavpur University, Kolkata