Hello everyone,

My name is Lorenz, and over the past few months, I had the opportunity to complete an internship at Evonik in the field of process engineering for particle technology at the Hanau site in Germany.

After completing my bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in Erlangen, I wanted to gain practical experience in the technical-chemical research of a leading industrial company. The variety of specialized applications developed and produced at Evonik – from marine coatings to biosurfactants to polymers for anion exchange membranes in hydrogen electrolyzers – quickly convinced me that this was the ideal place to gain initial insights into the chemical industry. My interview confirmed this positive first impression and increased my anticipation for the internship.

During my internship, I was involved in various research and development projects in the field of polymers. The work was always exciting and varied due to the diversity of polymers, their applications, and the different process steps we optimized, scaled, or developed anew. There were always new challenges, and working in the lab was anything but monotonous.

One of my main projects revolved around the extrusion of various polymers and compounds, as well as analyzing the resulting product properties. In another project, I dealt with the precipitation of polymers in various solvents on a laboratory scale. I had the opportunity to scale a process from a 1-liter reactor to a 5-liter reactor, which was a particular challenge. Additionally, I conducted experiments on the parameter-dependent residence time of a polymer powder in a laboratory rotary kiln. I then examined the produced particles and suspensions by determining the particle size distribution, specific surface area via gas adsorption, and through scanning electron microscope images.

I regularly presented the results of my experiments to my supervisors. In our discussions, I felt valued as a full member of the team, and my knowledge of laboratory work and specific conditions was always respected. Together, we determined the next steps, which made the collaboration particularly pleasant.

I particularly remember the excellent team atmosphere at Evonik. Whether in the lab, the pilot plant, or the office – everyone was always helpful and committed to providing us interns with an interesting and educational experience. The large number of interns, students, and young engineers in my department made it easy to quickly connect with others. The exchange with international interns from countries like Colombia, France, the USA, and India was particularly enriching. This gave me valuable insights into different study cultures and allowed me to further develop my skills in collaborating in an international team. The Hanau site also impressed with a good cafeteria and the diverse facilities and departments housed there.

Looking back, the internship at Evonik was a valuable experience that not only brought me new skills and knowledge but also provided the opportunity to make many new contacts and experience research in a large chemical company firsthand. I can therefore only recommend anyone interested in the world of specialty chemicals to consider an internship at Evonik.

Best wishes and much success,

Lorenz

On the students@Evonik blog, students, who work at Evonik, share their experiences about life and work in the company.