Chemical | Mechanical Engineering internship: testing of BPA-free adhesives

Chemical | Mechanical Engineering Internship: Testing of BPA-Free Adhesives

Introduction

The D&E Adhesives Competence Group develops knowledge on adhesives including adhesive properties, processing, modeling, way of working with adhesives, and much more. This knowledge results in a robust, reliable and predictable adhesive bond connection, aimed to ensure specifications and regulations on all levels.

Your Assignment

Last December, the EU announced a ban of Bisphenol-A (BPA) products for food contact application due to their harmful impact on human health system. This ban might be extended in the future to other classes of BPA-containing materials, including structural epoxy. If that would be the case, some of the adhesives employed in ASML could be discontinued. Given that at ASML safety, health, and wellness of people are taken seriously and compliance with European regulations is required, ASML is eager to start looking into possible alternatives to this class of compounds. Therefore, the main tasks of this internship include:

• Scouting of possible commercial alternatives to BPA-Containing adhesives, like MMA Adhesives;

• Selection of BPA-free adhesives, taking into account the health aspect as well as mechanical and chemical properties;

• Testing the selected adhesives for cleanliness;

• Testing the selected adhesives for mechanical properties in our cleanroom laboratory (lap shear and tensile strength, dynamic mechanical properties, fatigue and creep behavior);

• Comparison of the results with the BPA-based adhesives, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of using one type or the other.

This is a Bachelor or Master apprenticeship or graduation (thesis) internship with a desired duration of 6 months or more, working 5 days per week, 3 days onsite. The start date is around September - October 2025.

Your Profile

To be a fit for this assignment, you:

• Are busy with your bachelor's or master's in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, or Materials Science;

• Have a solid knowledge of polymer, coating chemistry and physical properties and concepts;

• Have some experience with mechanical testing tools (DMA, Dynamometer, etc.) would be a plus;

• Have a hands-on mentality and willingness to perform practical work in the lab;

• Have a good communication skills in English (verbal and written).

Other requirements you need to meet:

• You are enrolled at an educational institute for the entire duration of the internship;

• You are located in the Netherlands to perform your internship. In case you are currently living/studying outside of the Netherlands, your CV/motivation letter includes the willingness to relocate;

• If you are a non-EU citizen, studying in the Netherlands, your university is willing to sign the documents relevant for doing an internship (i.e., Nuffic agreement).

Diversity and Inclusion

ASML is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.

About Us

ASML is a leading supplier of lithography equipment, used by the world’s top chipmakers to print microchips that are increasingly powerful, fast and energy efficient. Working at ASML is inspiring, no matter what field you're in. That’s because we push the boundaries of technology: if it’s moving the world forward, chances are, we’re behind it. In fact, we’re probably a part of the electronic device you’re using right now.

We’re a global team of more than 32,000 people from 122 different nationalities and counting. Headquartered in Europe’s top tech hub, the Brainport Eindhoven region in the Netherlands, our operations are spread across Europe, Asia and the US.