Senior Inorganic Adhesive Chemist - Coatings - North West

Our client is a leading European manufacturer of coatings and polymer-based products. Due to expansions, they are seeking an Inorganic Adhesives Chemist to formulate and test adhesives. Based at the UK manufacturing and research centre in the North West of England, you will liaise with European customers and colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Assemble chemical strategies that help progress towards adhesives that allow electrical steel laminate sheets to be bonded without welding, bolting or interlocking in the laminated cores of electrical motors.
• Formulate both organic and inorganic adhesives and develop adhesives with magnetic properties.
• Undertake practical laboratory work, including sourcing raw materials, adhesive formulation, small scale adhesive manufacture and preparation of Technical Data Sheets.
• Application, cure and physical testing of adhesives, electrical resistance testing of adhesives, preparation of stress relief annealing samples, accurate record keeping, including lab books, correct preparation of samples and panels for evaluation.
• Write internal reports and adjust formulation to take account of additions and losses or any out of specification measurements.
• Initiate analytical work, including adhesive solids determination, digital imaging, rheology measurement, Glass Transition temperature, IR spectroscopy and UV spectroscopy.
• Interpret results independently and choose suitable raw materials to meet specifications.
• Manipulate formulations given in weights, volumes or percentages and source alternative raw materials with equivalent properties.
• Adjust performance into specification using additives, understanding the influence of temperature on properties, and which anticorrosive pigments should be used.
• Supervise first batches of new products.
• Provide support including supervision of batches in production, investigation of production problems, and finding re-work outlets for redundant paint.
• Provide guidance, supervision and training to junior chemists and laboratory technicians.
• Plan, organise and chair meetings with colleagues and suppliers.
• Present results of laboratory experiments to customers under supervision.
• Communicate and liaise with universities and testing bodies.
• Organise repairs and installation of equipment with Site Services.
• Keep up to date with new technology and raw materials by reading articles and journals.
• Evaluate new equipment, take part in pilot line trials and investigate customer complaints.
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment through daily housekeeping inspections and adherence to 5S practices.
• Be competent and fully compliant in the safe operation of equipment, including general lab equipment, ovens, calibration of laboratory equipment, operation of accelerated weathering cabinets, and operation of pilot line (with appropriate training).

Candidate Profile

• Educated to degree level in chemistry with industrial experience of working within a lab.
• Knowledge of basic principles of adhesive preparation, application and testing.
• Strong knowledge of how raw material choice can impact on adhesive performance.
• In-depth knowledge of polymers and/or inorganic glasses.
• Drawdown skills and knowledge of how both time and temperature impact on cure.
• Aware of other techniques such as DMA, Tensile Testing, SEM, XPS and ToFSIMS.
• Aware of how uncertainties arise and how to manage them.
• Fully competent in the use of IT systems and software including Lotus Notes, Achiever databases, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Safeware.
• Capable of working to deadlines whilst adhering to quality requirements.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

In return, our client is offering a competitive salary and benefits package with opportunity for career progression.