What chemicals are involved in chemical engineering? November 19, 2018

What chemicals are involved in chemical engineering?

Chemical engineering is all about changing raw materials into useful products such as clothes, food and drink, and energy. Chemical engineers focus on processes and products – they develop and design processes to create products; either focusing on improving existing processes or creating new ones. This means that they are also concerned with managing resources, protecting the environment and health and safety.

The aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronic, environmental, medical, and military industries seek the skills of chemical engineers in order to help develop and improve their technical products, such as:

Ultra strong fibers, fabrics, and adhesives for vehicles
Biocompatible materials for implants and prosthetics
Films for optoelectronic devices

Chemical engineers work in almost every industry and affect the production of almost every article manufactured on an industrial scale. Some typical tasks include:

Ensuring compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations
Conducting research into improved manufacturing processes
Designing and planning equipment layout
Incorporating safety procedures for working with dangerous chemicals
Monitoring and optimizing the performance of production processes
Estimating production costs

Chemical Engineers apply the principles of:

Mathematics
Algebra
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Production
Material Sciences
Aerodynamics
Mechanical engineering
Electrical engineering

Important soft Skills chemical engineers need to have:

Analytical skills: must be able to troubleshoot designs that do not work as planned and be able to ask the right questions and then find answers that work.
Creativity: explore new ways of applying engineering principles and invent new materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, and new applications in chemical and biomedical engineering.
Interpersonal skills: develop good working relationships with others involved in production processes.
Math skills: use the principles of calculus and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting.
Problem-solving skills: be able to anticipate and identify problems, including such issues as workers’ safety and problems related to manufacturing and environmental protection.

Interested in studying a chemical engineering course but not sure what chemical courses are available in London? Find out more about the chemical engineering courses on offer at London TFE.