INTERNSHIP REPORT
TESTING QUALITY AND SAFETY ASSURANCE
Submitted by – Abdul Wahid Alam
Enrollment Number – 2311010195
Department of Chemistry
B.Sc 4th Semester
Internship Tenure – 7th July to 18th July, 2025
Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology
(CIPET), CSTS – Guwahati
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Acknowledgment
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who supported and
guided me throughout my internship journey.
First and foremost, I would like to thank CIPET, CSTS - Guwahati for giving
me the opportunity to undertake my internship and gain valuable practical
experience. I am especially grateful to my supervisor, Haimanti Das Roy ,
Senior Technical Assistant, for their continuous support, constructive
feedback, and encouragement during the entire period of the internship. I
also extend my heartfelt thanks to all the team members and staff of CIPET,
CSTS - Guwahati who welcomed me warmly and provided me with a
conducive environment to learn and grow. Their cooperation and
willingness to share knowledge were truly invaluable.
I am thankful to my mentor, Dr. Rituraj Kalita, Associate Professor of Cotton
University, Department of Chemistry for their guidance and support. I
would like to extend my appreciation to Prof. Manjit K. Bhattacharyya, Head
of the Department of Chemistry and faculty members of Chemistry
department, Cotton University, Guwahati, for their suggestions, help and
co-operation.
Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends for their constant support
and motivation throughout this experience. This internship has been a
significant learning experience, and I am truly grateful to everyone who
played a part in making it successful.
Abdul Wahid Alam
UG 4th Semester
Cotton University
2
Table of Contents
S. Contents Page
NO NO.
1 List of tables and figures 4
2 Abbreviations 5
3 Summary 6
4 Institution Background 7
Information
5 Work Responsibility 8-10
6 Test’s Performed 11-23
7 Skill earned and Experience 24
8 Conclusion 25
9 References 26
3
List of Tables, Figures and Illustrations
• List of Tables
Table 1 – Japanese terms are translated into the English language version of
5S’s.
• List of Figures
Fig 1 – 5S method for effective and safe workplace
Fig 2 – Hydrometer
Fig 3 – Weighing balance
Fig 4 – MFI tester
Fig 5 – UTM, Tensile test
Fig 6 – UTM , Flexural test
Fig 7 – Petridish
Fig 8 – Oven
Fig 9 – Muffle furnace
Fig 10 – Hot plate
Fig 11 – Melting point tester
Fig 12 – Shore A Hardness tester
Fig 13 – Shore D Hardness tester
Fig 14 – Weighing the sulphated ash content Fig
15 – Sulphated Ash content
4
Abbreviations
CIPET – Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology
ASTM – American Standard of Testing Materials
ASTMD – American Standard of Testing Materials ( D stands for Plastic)
IS – International Standards
UTM – Universal Testing Machine
MFI – Melt Flow Index
UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
NABL – National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration
Laboratories
BIS – Bureau of Indian Standards
PP – Poly Propylene
PE – Poly Ethylene
ASTMD 792 – Test Method for determining Density
ASTMD 1238 – Test Method for determining MFI
ASTMD 638 – Test Method for determining Tensile Properties
ASTMD 790 – Test Method for determining Flexural properties
FRP – Fibre Reinforced Plastic
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Summary
I undertook my internship at CIPET, CSTS - Guwahati, a reputed
organization specializing in the Petrochemical industry and quality testing
of plastic products, The internship tenure was from 7th to 18th July, 2025.
I was assigned to the testing Quality and Safety assurance Department,
where I was actively involved in the testing and safety evaluation of various
plastic materials and products.
During my internship, I learned about national and international standards
for plastic safety, such as ASTM and IS guidelines. I assisted in performing
mechanical tests (like tensile strength, flexural strength, and hardness),
thermal analysis (melting point, moisture content etc) to ensure product
compliance and durability.
This intership experience helped me gain a deeper understanding of quality
assurance protocols, the use of advanced testing equipment such as UTM
(Universal Testing Machine), MFI (Melt Flow Index) testers.
Overall, the internship significantly enhanced my knowledge in the field of
polymer testing and safety assurance. It also improved my technical,
analytical, and reporting skills, preparing me for a professional career in
plastic product quality and regulatory compliance.
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Institution Background Information
Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET) is a
premier National Institute functioning under the Department of Chemicals
& Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India
devoted to Skill development, Technology support, Academic & Research
activities for the growth of Petrochemicals & allied industries in the country.
CIPET was established by Government of India in 1968 at Chennai, with
assistance from the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP). Initially named the Central Institute of
Plastics Engineering & Technology, it was later renamed CIPET. CIPET has
44 centres spread across the country.
CIPET - CSTS – Guwahati was established in the year 2008, under the
Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals &
Fertilizers, Government of India. CIPET Guwahati boasts modern facilities,
including wellequipped classrooms, a processing lab with a range of
processing machines, and a dedicated hostel for outstation students.
It plays a crucial role in providing training, technology support, and
academic and research services to the plastics and allied industries.
It also offers Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma programs in Plastics
Technology and Plastics Mould Technology. The centre conducts various
SDTPs ( Skill Development Training Programs), including those aligned with
the “Skill India” initiative, often supported by government departments and
agencies. This report is also result of such a short internship program at
CIPET: CSTS – Guwahati, from 7th July 2025 to 18th July 2025.
CIPET offers comprehensive testing services for plastics and composites,
accredited by NABL and approved by BIS. They also provide technical
support to industries in areas like tooling, machining, and product
manufacturing.
It has a state of the-art recycling plant that utilizes collected plastic waste
to produce value added products, supported by local partnerships.
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Work Responsibility
During the internship, for the very first I had learned about the safety
precautions while working in a laboratory and we had taught many general
safety rules and guidelines for a lab, such as • Don’t operate any device
without proper knowledge.
• When working on a machine do not wear loose clothes.
• Don’t test, touch or smell anything unless instructed to do so. Etc
And then we learned about 5S, it is a system for organizing spaces so work
can be performed efficiently, effectively and safely. This system focuses on
putting everything where it belongs and keeping the workplace clean,
which makes it easier for people to do their jobs without wasting time or
risking injury. The pillars of 5S are simple to learn and important to
implement.
• Fig 1 – 5S method for effective and safe workplace
Japanese Translated English Definition
Seiri Organize Sort Eliminating whatever is
not needed.
Seiton Orderliness Set in order Organize whatever
remains by neatly
arranging.
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Seiso Cleanliness Shine Clean the work area by
conducting a clean up
campaign.
Seiketsu Standardize Standardize Schedule regular
cleaning and
maintenance by
conducting seiri, seiton
and seiso daily
Shitsuke Discipline Sustain Make 5S a way of life by
forming the habit of
always following the
first four S’s.
• Table 1 – Japanese terms are translated into the
English language version of 5S’s.
After learning the safety rules and guidelines, I was assigned to learn and
perform various tests and record the results of all the tests performed
respectively.
Following are the list of test that all the interns learned and performed
during the tenure of the internship:-
1. Identification of plastic materials.
2. Determination of Density of plastic materials.
3. Determination of MFI of plastic materials.
4. Determination of Tensile properties of plastic materials.
5. Determination of Flexural properties of plastic materials.
6. Determination of Moisture content of plastic materials.
7. Determination of Filler content of plastic materials.
8. Determination of Melting point of plastic materials.
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9. Determination of Shore Hardness of plastic materials.
10. Determination of Sulphated Ash content of plastic materials
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Test’s Performed
1. Identification of plastic materials-
Generally all plastics are polymeric organic materials. There are different of
types of plastics differing in their chemical nature, structure and
properties.
It’s quite often that, the defective and premature failure in the plastic
products is observed due to the wrong material used.
So, the selection of a particular type of plastic material for a defined use is
necessary to be identified first.
Thus analysis of plastic materials or identification with respect to the type
or class it belongs to, is of great importance.
• Penetration Test – If the electric soldering iron penetrates into the
sample then it is Thermoplastic and if not then it is Thermoset.
• Floatation Test – If the plastic sample float on water then sample is
PP or PE.
• Burning Test – Here we have to observe several characteristics of the
sample such as flame colour, odour, self extinguishing or not etc.
2. Determination of Density of plastic materials –
Density is defined as the mass per unit volume of material and it is
expressed in kg/m³ or g/cm³.
Significance of doing density test for plastic materials is crucial for quality
control and predicting performance for specific applications.
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The test method used for determining the density of plastics is done
according to ASTMD 792.
Here the density is determined by the buoyancy method by finding the
mass on the sample in air and in water or butyl acetate.
• Apparatus used – Analytical weighing balance, Hydrometer, Beaker,
Copper wire, • Reagents - Water and Butyl acetate.
Fig 2 – Hydrometer Fig 3 – Weighing Balance
Formula used for density calculation,
𝑎
Density of the sample = 𝑎+𝑚−𝑏 Densitysolvent
Where, a = weight of sample in air
m= weight of the copper wire in solvent.
b= weight of sample and copper wire in the solvent.
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3. Determination of Melt Flow Index(MFI) of plastic
materials
Melt flow index is defined as the rate of extrusion of molten resin under
specified temperature and pressure through a specified size of die in 10
minutes. It is expressed in g/10min.
MFI is a crucial test in the plastic industry for accessing the flow properties
of molten plastics, which is directly related to the product consistency and
meet quality standards. It is used for grading of Thermoplastic material and
their quality control.
A material having high molecular weight has more resistance flow than the
low molecular weight polymer, a significantly different MFI value may
indicate different grade of material.
The test method used for determining MFI is ASTMD 1238.
• Apparatus used - MFI tester, internal die (2.096mm), cutting tool,
loading piston, stop watch, weighing balance.
• Procedure – Set the temperature to 190°C, then insert the 8-10g of
sample into the barrel and press it so there is no air bubble. Place the
piston and give the load over it (5kg), after the extrusion starts cut the
extruded molten resin in time interval of 240 seconds. Take minimum
5-6 reading and then weigh them in the balance.
Fig 4 – MFI Tester
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𝑚
𝑀𝐹𝐼 = ∗ 600
𝑇
Where, m = mass of the molten resin
T= time interval of cutting the molten resin
4. Determination of Tensile properties of plastic
materials.
Tensile strength is defined as the ability of a material to be withstand
tensile force when pulled apart. The unit of Tensile strength is
Kg/cm².
When a material is subjected to a tensile force it resist to any change
of the applied force in an equal amount. This resistance is due to
intermolecular forces of the polymer. However as the amount of
force is increased it stretches the molecules against the
intermolecular force of the polymer and shows the deformation.
Initially the material shows elastic properties according to Hook’s
Law where stress is proportional to strain but when the stretching is
continued at certain stage of the stretching it shows permanent
deformation and leads to failure.
Tensile testing of plastic materials is crucial for ensuring product
quality, performance, and safety in various applications. It provides
essential data on a plastic’s strength, flexibility, and how it behaves
under tension, guiding material selection, product design, and
manufacturing processes.
The test method used for determining the Tensile property is
according to ASTMD 638.
• Apparatus used – Universal Testing Machine
(UTM), Vernier Calliper
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Fig 5 – UTM, Tensile test
5. Determination of Flexural properties of plastic
materials
Flexural strength is the ability of material to withstand bending forces
applied perpendicular to longitudinal axis. The unit of Flexural strength is
Kg/cm².
When a material is subjected to bending force, the bending and stretching
of inter molecular bond of the polymeric material takes place. Initially
small deformation at inter molecular level takes which is recoverable
within Hookean region. On relieving of stress within this region deformation
is recovered by the material. However, further stretching leads to the
pulling of inter molecules apart and certain stage of stretching the
deformation become irreversible.
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Flexural testing of plastics is crucial for evaluating their
Fig 6 – UTM, Flexural test
performance under bending loads, which is important for understanding
how they will behave in real-world applications. This test helps determine
properties like flexural strength, flexural modulus, and flexural strain,
providing insights into a material’s stiffness, resistance to bending, and
ability to withstand deformation before failure.
The test method used for Flexural testing is according to ASTMD 790.
• Apparatus Used – UTM, Vernier Calliper
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6. Determination of moisture content of plastic
materials.
Moisture content in the polymeric material may be defined as the
quantitative amount of moisture absorbed by plastic materials. The
moisture content is expressed in Percentage (%).
The Principle of Moisture content is to determine the amount of moisture
present in the sample. This test is based on the principle of drying a
standard quantity of sample in oven under the specified condition & time.
The moisture content in the sample material is the loss of weight in the
sample due to evaporation of moisture from the material. It is determined
by finding the difference in weight of sample before and after the heating.
Many polymeric material absorbed moisture from the air.
Depending upon the nature of the Polymeric material. The Hygroscopic
material absorb high percentage of moisture. The presence of moisture
causes processing as well as dimensional stability problem and affect the
quality of product. It results the performance of product and loss of impact
strength and other properties.
This test is used for quality control and to ensure good process ability of
materials.
𝑀𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡(%) = {(W2 – W3)/(W2 – W1)} * 100
Where, W1= weight of blank Petridish.
W2 = weight of Petridish and sample before drying .
W3 = weight of Petridish and sample after drying for one
hour at 105°C
• Apparatus used – Oven, Petridish, Heat resistant gloves,
weighing balance.
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Fig 7 – Petridish Fig 8 – Oven
7. Determination of Filler content in plastic materials.
Filler content is defined as the percent (%) by mass of the residue left after
ignition of specified quantity of material in Muffle furnace under the
specified conditions and time.
Filler content is expressed in Percentage (%) and the temperature of the
furnace should be 550°C.
Filler content test on plastic materials is to determine the proportion of
non-plastic material (filler) present in the composite. This is crucial for
quality control, ensuring the material meets specifications, and predicting
its performance. Fillers are added to polymers to modify their properties
and reduce costs, but the amount of filler significantly impacts the final
product's characteristics. The filler contents in the polymeric material
determined and control the various physical, mechanical, electrical,
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optical, and other properties of materials. They influence the processing
characteristics and performance of materials and products. Certain fillers
are low cost materials and influence the performance of the materials
when added with polymers.
𝑊3 − 𝑊1
𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡(%) = ∗ 100
𝑊2 − 𝑊1
Where, W1= weight of the empty crucible
W2= weight of crucible and sample before heating
W3= weight of the crucible and residue.
• Apparatus used – Muffle furnace, Silica crucible, weighing
balance, Heat resistant gloves, hot plate, desiccator.
Fig 9 – Muffle furnace. Fig 10 – Hot plate
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8. Determination of Melting point of plastic
materials.
The temperature at which the change of state occurs from solid to liquid is
called the melting point. The unit of melting point is ℃. To perform the test
firstly the sample was cut in form of small fine chips. A drop of glycerine
was put on a small piece of sample chip then it was placed on a very small
concave glass plate and after putting on the glass plate it was covered with
another. The whole system was then transferred to the melting point tester
machine and the machine was turned on. The sample was observed
carefully and the time of melting was noted. The process was repeated
three times and the average was calculated. That indicated the melting
point of the sample.
• Apparatus used – Melting point tester, glass.
Fig 11 – Melting point tester
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9. Determination of Shore Hardness of plastic
materials.
Hardness means how much a material can resist being pressed, scratched,
or poked. This test is mainly used to check the hardness of soft plastics
and rubber-like (elastomeric) materials. For soft plastics, Shore A hardness
is used, while for harder plastics, Shore D hardness is used. Hardness is
unitless so the result is shown in numbers, higher the number, harder the
material. For fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) and other hard, non-reinforced
plastics, we use a different method called Barcol hardness test to measure
their hardness. During the internship we performed the test using Shore A
hardness tester and Shore D hardness tester only we did not use the Barcol
hardness test. To check the hardness, we press the testing machine (Shore
A hardness tester for soft plastic and shore D hardness tester for hard
plastic) on the surface of the plastic material. The number shown on the
device tells us how hard the material is. During the test, we took 10
readings each for both soft and hard materials. Then, we calculated the
average of those readings to get the final hard ness value.
Fig 12 – Shore A hardness tester Fig 13 – Shore D
Hardness tester
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10. Determination of Sulphated Ash content in plastic
materials.
Calcination with sulphuric acid treatment after combustion, that is, by
burning the substance and transforming the residue into sulphates using
concentrated sulphuric acid and, finally, heating the residue at 850°C until
constant mass is reached. It is expressed in Percentage (%).
The sulphated ash test is a critical part of quality control for plastics. It
helps ensure that the material meets specific purity standards and is free
from excessive amounts of undesirable inorganic impurities. This test is
used in various industries, including plastics manufacturing, where it helps
in assessing the quality of raw materials and finished products. It's also
used in research and development to understand the composition of
different plastic formulations.
𝑆𝑢𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐴𝑠ℎ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡(%) = {(M3 – M1)/(M2 – M1)}*100
Where, M1 = weight of the Crucible
M2 = weight of the crucible and sample
M3 = weight of the Crucible and residue
• Apparatus used – Silica crucible, analytical balance, muffle
furnace, desiccator, hot plate, heat resistant gloves.
• Reagents used – Sulphuric acid.
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Fig 14 – weighing the sulphated ash content
Fig 15 – Sulphated Ash content
23
Skill earned and Experience
During my internship at CIPET: CSTS, Guwahati, I got the opportunity to
learn and experience many new things that helped me grow both
technically and personally. I worked in the Testing and Quality Assurance
Department, where I learned to perform different mechanical and thermal
tests on plastic materials by using professional machines like the UTM
(Universal Testing Machine), MFI tester, melting point tester, shore
hardness tester, muffle furnace, and more. I also learned how to follow
international testing standards like ASTM and IS, and how to record results
properly with care and accuracy. One of the best parts of this internship
was working under the guidance of Ms. Haimanti Das Roy ma’am, who was
not only a very knowledgeable instructor but also very supportive and
friendly. She explained every step with patience and made sure we
understood how to operate all the machines correctly. I really learned a lot
from her. Apart from the technical work, we were also given a tour of the
other four departments of CIPET This tour gave me a complete picture of
how plastic products are designed, shaped, processed, and tested before
they are ready for use. The overall environment at CIPET is very peaceful
and wellorganized. The campus is located near AIIMS Guwahati, and
working there every day felt comfortable and motivating. This internship
gave me many valuable skills like machine handling, teamwork,
maintaining lab safety, and proper testing procedures. It boosted my
confidence and made me more capable of working in real industry
conditions. I truly believe the experience and skills I gained here will help
me a lot in my future career.
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Conclusion
This internship at CIPET: CSTS, Guwahati was truly a valuable learning
experience for me. I got hands-on exposure to different types of plastic
testing methods, including mechanical and thermal tests, and learned to
operate various industry-standard machines. I also learned about
international standards, and how important proper testing is to ensure the
quality, safety, and performance of plastic materials before they are used in
real products. Before joining the internship, I had a onesided view that
plastic is harmful and only increases pollution. But now I understand that
plastic, when used consciously and responsibly, is a very useful material.
For example, using 125-micron plastic makes recycling easier and reduces
environmental harm. I learned that plastic is something we must co-exist
with, at least until we get a reliable alternative, so we must handle it wisely
and with awareness. Overall, I gained technical skills, confidence, industry
knowledge, and a new perspective on plastics. This internship has made
me more prepared for the future and motivated me to contribute positively
to this field.
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References
• 5S methodology in maintainance -
https://share.google/PolDZTeuw9ZK9QBF5
• CIPET – Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and
Technology
https://www.cipet.gov.in/index.php
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Plagiarism Report
Summary of the Plagiarism Report –
Unique – 80.77%
Plagiarism – 19.33%
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