BURTON COLLEGE, Burton on Trent

GENERAL AIM

To provide you with the skills and knowledge required to operate at technician level within the polymer processing industry and thus to provide a sound base from which you can successfully progress to the Higher National Certificate and thence to senior technician levels.

SPECIFIC AIMS

To understand the science and technology of materials processing and applications of polymers.

To be able to select and modify materials for specific applications.

To understand the processing and service performance interface as it relates to polymers.

To operate relevant polymer processing and test equipment.

To interpret trade literature and technical/ research papers.

To recognise the importance of hazards and remedies within the remit of current
health and safety legislation.

To work with others, to recognise the importance of team membership.

To be able to communicate information in the form of reports and oral presentation.

To develop initiative and self-motivation and thus increase confidence and self reliance.
 

SPECIFIC AIMS

1  Technical Aspects

To  provide  a fundamental understanding of  the  structure, properties and processing
of polymeric  materials, and  their effective commercial and  industrial utilisation.

To   explore  the  inter-relationship  that  exist   between structure,   composition and   
properties  of   polymeric materials.

To understand  the  processing  and  service   performance interface as it relates to polymers.

To operate relevant polymer processing and test equipment.

To  interpret  trade  literature  and  technical/   research papers.

To  understand the importance of variability  in  processing via quality control studies.

To  recognise the importance of hazards and remedies  within the remit of current health and
safety legislation.

2 Personal Development

To develop the communication skills necessary to take full advantage of the course
and to optimise career potential.

To  organise and be responsible for the work of others, the importance of team membership.

To  develop student initiative and self motivation and  thus increase confidence and self reliance.

To  offer students opportunities to develop  entrepreneurial and other transferable
skills to support career development.

HND Polymer Technology

GENERAL AIMS

To  provide students with the skills and knowledge  required to  operate  at senior technician level within  the  polymer industry, thus provide a sound base  from  which the student can successfully progress to post graduate studies and thence to senior management levels. To enable students who have already studied the plastics or rubber route at HNC to become familiar with the materials and processing in another area of polymer technology.

SPECIFIC AIMS

  Technical Aspects

To  provide  a fundamental understanding of  the  structure, properties and  processing of
polymeric  materials, and  their effective commercial and  industrial  utilisation.

To   explore  the  inter-relationship  that  exist   between structure,   
composition and   properties  of   polymeric materials.

To understand  the  processing  and  service   performance interface as it relates  to polymers.

To operate relevant polymer processing and test equipment.
To  interpret  trade  literature  and  technical/   research papers.
To  understand the importance of variability  in  processing via quality control studies.
To  recognise the importance of hazards and remedies  within the remit of  
current health and safety legislation.

Personal Development

To develop the communication skills necessary to take full advantage of the course
and to optimise career potential.

To  organise and be responsible for the work of others, the importance of team membership.

To  develop student initiative and self motivation and  thus increase confidence and self reliance.

To  offer students opportunities to develop  entrepreneurial and other transferable
skills to support career development.

The college offers processing and testing services to the plastics and rubber industries

The college is an approved centre for the management of FMA and AMA 

The college offers tailored short courses and NVQ’s  delivered in company