Job Description:

• 1) Controls reactor vessels to polymerize raw resin materials to form phenolic, acrylic, or polyester resins: Pumps specified amount of raw material into calibrated tank according to formula and transfers materials into reactor.

• 2) Starts mixers and pumps reagents and catalysts into reactor.

• 3) Starts circulation and vacuum pumps.

• 4) Adjusts valves to regulate flow of preheated or cooled fluid around jacket of reactor and to start and regulate polymerization reaction.

• 5) Adjusts valves to regulate pressure and temperature in reactor.

• 6) Tests viscosity and pH of resins to determine length of polymerization time, using pH meters and viscosimeters.

• 7) Turns valves to discharge processed materials from kettles into cooling pans.

• 8) Records processing time, pressure, temperature, and test results in log; and writes daily reports on amounts of raw materials used and finished product barreled or stored.

• 9) May dump compounds into polymerized resins to thicken product.

• 10) May pump polymerized resin from storage tanks to tank trucks or cars for shipment.

• 11) May cast liquid plastics in molds.

• 12) May analyze sample of plastics materials to determine clarity, acidity, fusibility, or brittleness, using slide rule, torsion balance, and other testing equipment.