In this practical, students become acquainted with the area of polymer materials from their chemical composition to the investigation of products. A focus of the practical is getting to know the different material characteristics, processing technologies and other factors which influence the properties of materials. Further emphases of the practical include plastics processing and finishing. Students have the opportunity to pre-treat and paint original plastic parts as well as to test the plastic-paint bond.

The students learn to prepare different binders and pigments and to test them according to particular criteria. The preparation of environmentally friendly binders is emphasised. The prepared binders and pigments are physically characterised and their workability is tested. The drying/hardening behaviour of binders and the tinting strength of pigments are among the characterisitcs tested.

The following products are manufactured:

• Alkyd resins
• Polyurethane alkyd hybrid dispersions
• Saturated polyester
• Unsaturated polyester
• Polyacrylates
• Melamine resin
• Urea resin
• Polyvinyl acetate by emulsion polymerisation
• Polystyrene by suspension polymerisation
• Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymerisation
• Polyvinyl alcohol by polyvinyl acetate
• Carboxymethyl cellulose
• Azo pigments
• Cu phthalocyanine pigments