Chardon Custom Polymers: Rheology Intern
- kcarter8917
- Mar 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 5
Internship Job Title: Rheology Intern
Semester: Summer 2025
Preferred Major(s): Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Material Science
Internship Type: Full-Time
Work Type: On-Site
Company Address: 373 Washington St., Chardon, OH 44024
Job Description:
Chardon Custom Polymers is a compounder of rubber. Raw materials are mixed into synthetic and natural rubber to affect properties such as stiffness, strength, chemical resistance, and vulcanization speeds. Our customers buy these compounded, uncured rubber batches and mold, extrude, solvate, etc. so that they can make finished goods.
New installed equipment, a Rubber Process Analyzer (RPA), imparts strain and heat in a rheological test. Basically, this equipment measures stiffness of uncured, flowable rubber at different temperatures, amounts of deflection, and rates of deflection with a time component.
The intern would assemble and test a variety of raw, unmixed polymers as well as mixed compounds to begin building a database of material properties. Test method development would be involved to determine best test conditions for a given set of goals. Such development would be in concert with an experienced technologist to assist, guide, and help the intern. But, the intern is expected to be proactive in promoting some of their own thoughts and ideas. Data is to be assembled into reports or graphed to promote understanding of tested materials.
Candidates are expected to have basic knowledge of rubber and plastics. Chemical or Polymer Engineering, Chemistry, Rheology fields of study are pertinent. Data assembly as well as analysis in authored reports, graphs, and tables are competencies sought.
Large five hundred pound batches of hot rubber are produced in production equipment at Chardon Custom Polymers. This laboratory position will help the company to understand what are some of the best materials to achieve our end customer targets. A real impact to the company is expected, with assistance and guidance to the intern provided. The Rubber Industry is strong and wide in Northeast Ohio as well as many other parts of the country, and demand for technical professionals is strong. This position can provide an introduction.