College Catalog

One College Avenue, Williamsport PA 17701-5799 · (570) 326-3761 or (800) 367-9222

Plastics and Polymer Technology (PS)
Academic School: Industrial & Engineering Technologies
(Effective Fall 2008)

Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)

Students will gain knowledge in plastics (polymer) materials and the processing techniques commonly used in conjunction with these materials. A graduate in plastics technology will have a working knowledge of polymeric materials and processing techniques such as injection molding, extrusion, vacuum forming, injection blow molding and extrusion blow molding.

Career Opportunities:  Process setup technician, new product development technician, quality control technician, customer service technician, sales service technician. Experienced Plastics and Polymer Technology graduates commonly serve in supervisory roles in industry.

Recommended High School Subjects:  Algebra, physics, chemistry, and, if possible, mechanical drawing.

Remediation Strategies:  Students should remediate any deficiencies prior to enrollment. It is recommended that students remediate deficiencies in the following order of priority: mathematics, English, reading. Students testing to MTH 004 or less are not permitted to take Plastics and Polymer Engineering Technology (PPT) courses until the deficiency is cleared.

Transfer Procedures:  This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits.htm ). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.

Program Goals:  A graduate of this major should be able to:

• identify and participate in the selection of polymeric materials including thermoplastics, thermoset plastics, thermoset elastomers, and thermoplastic elastomers.
• read and interpret blueprints as they relate to part design.
• read and interpret electric schematic drawings as they relate to plastic processing equipment.
• describe and discuss in detail the various manufacturing processes used to form, compound, and handle polymeric materials.
• generate designs via a computer aided design (CAD) system using software, such as parametric modeling.
• properly hang a mold in an injection molder.
• start up an injection molder; establish and troubleshoot a molding cycle.
• troubleshoot a mold-material/machine combination for common processing problems in injection molding.
• set up an extrusion line for simple extrudates such as strands and ribbons.
• discuss at length the safety practices required when working with the common plastic/polymer processing methods.
• disassemble, clean and/or replace worn components, and reassemble an injection mold.
• perform or specify minor machining functions.
• describe polymer behavior during melting, flow and cooling for semicrystalline and amorphous polymers.
• design experiments in Statistical Process Control (SPC) and use the data to solve process problems.

Accreditation:  Accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Technology Accreditation Commission, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202, Telephone (410) 347-7700.

Pennsylvania College of Technology · One College Avenue · Williamsport, PA 17701 · (570) 326-3761 or (800) 367-9222

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