The Coloring of Plastics Major is a one of a kind program that equips students with the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills needed in the specific field of color formulation used in the plastics industry. Students gain experience using equipment common to the industry and learn to perform colorant performance evaluations, colorant compounding, visual, and instrumental matching.

Not only does the Coloring of Plastics Major relate directly to the plastics industry, but it applies to other industries needing color technicians, namely paints, printing inks and textiles.

Students should enjoy courses in science and mathematics. Art students may find this program a way to apply their artistic abilities in a field that pays well and has significant employment opportunities.

Students must pass a color-blindness test before admission to the program.

• Correctly and efficiently start-up, shut down, operate, troubleshoot, and optimize the operation of common plastic processing machines.

• Properly perform standard tests common to the plastics industry to identify unknown plastic materials, and determine their important physical properties using ASTM test methods.

• Select, weigh, and combine colorants with natural plastic to produce a color sample on an injection molding machine.

• Use a standard light booth to evaluate the quality of a color match.

• Use a spectrophotometer and color quality control software to evaluate the quality of a color match.

• Correct off-color plastic color formulations.