PIONEERS IN POLYMER SCIENCE
CHEMISTS AND CHEMISTRY A series of books devoted to the examination of the history and development of chemistry from its early emergence as a separate discipline to the present day. The series will describe the personalities, processes, theoretical and technical advances which have shaped our current understanding of chemical science.
PIONEERS IN POLYMER SCIENCE by RAYMOND B. SEYMOUR HERMAN F. MARK LINUS PAULING CHARLES H. FISHER G. ALLAN STAHL L. H. SPERLING C. S. MARVEL CHARLES E. CARRAHER, Jr. Edited by RAYM,oND B. SEYMOUR Department of Polymer Science. The University of Southern Mississippi. us. A. KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS DORDRECHT / BOSTON / LONDON
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Pioneers in polymer science! by Raymond B. Seymour... let al. I ; edited by Raymond B. Seymour. p. em. -- (Chemlsts and chemistry) Includes bibl iographies and index. 1. Chemists--Blography. 2. Polymers--Hlstory. 3. Plastics- -History. I. Seymour, Raymond Benedict, 1912- II. Series. TP1119.A1P56 1989 668.9'092'2--dc20 89-8222 ISBN-13: 978-94-010-7584-8 e-isbn-13: 978-94-009-2407-9 001: 10.1007/978-94-009-2407-9 Published by Kluwer Academic Publishers, P.O. Box 17,3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publishers incorporates the publishing programmes of D. Reidel, Martinus Nijhoff, Dr W. Junk and MTP Press. Sold and distributed in the U.S.A. and Canada by Kluwer Academic Publishers, 101 Philip DriYe, Norwell, MA 02061, U.S.A. In all other countries, sold and distributed by Kluwer Academic Publishers Group, P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, The Netherlands. printed on acid free paper All Rights Reserved 1989 by Kluwer Academic Publishers Softcover reprint of the hardcover I 5t edition 1989 No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner.
PREFACE Because of a lack of appreciation for his efforts in developing modern polymer science, the contributions of Hermann Staudinger were disregarded for decades. There have also been delays in recognizing the contributions of other pioneers in polymer science. Hence, it is gratifying to note that Professor Seymour chaired an American Chemical Society Symposium focusing on the contributions of these pioneers and that Kluwer Academic Publishers has published the proceedings of this important symposium. H.Mark v
DEDICATION This book on Pioneers in Polymer Science is dedicated to Nobel Laureate Polymer Scientists Hermann Staudinger, Emil Fischer, Herman Mark, Paul J. Flory, Linus Pauling, Carl S. Marvel, M. Polanyi, Giulio Natta, Karl Ziegler, and Bruce Merrifield as well as to those pioneers such as J.C. Patrick, Robert Thomas, William Sparks, Maurice Huggins, Qtto Bayer, Leo Baekeland, Anselm Payer, Roger Boyer, Waldo Semon, Robert Banks, J.P. Hogan, and other pioneers who, to a large degree, were responsible for the development of the world's second largest industry. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The editor appreciates the contribution of co-authors Herman Mark, C.H. Fisher, and G. Alan Stahl who cochaired the Symposium on Pioneers in Polymer Science at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society at Seattle, WA in 1984 and who contributed a chapter in this book. The editor is particularly grateful to Mischa Thomas who typed this manuscript. Raymond B. Seymour Distinguished Professor VI
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Pre-Twentieth Century Polymer Pioneers Chapter 2 Development of a Modern Polymer Theory G. Allan Stahl A New Concept-Colloidal Substances Rubber Staudinger and a "New" Theory A Stormy Decade Supplemental Reading Chapter 3 Remembering the Early Days of Polymer Science Herman F. Mark Three Milestones Chapter 4 The "Katz Effect" on the Random Coil Model for Polymer Chains L.H. Sperling Early Ideas of Polymer Chain Shape The Random Coil Chapter 5 Anselm Payen - Pioneer in Natural Polymers and Industrial Chemistry Charles H. Fisher Payen's Investigations of Natural Polymers Payen: Technologist and Chemical Manufacturer 1 1 10 13 13 14 16 19 20 21 25 27 29 29 34 41 41 41 42 42 45 47 47 48 50
viii Chapter 5 cont. Life and Career of Anselm Payen TABLE OF CONTENTS 52 55 Chapter 6 Emil Fischer - Pioneer in Monomer and Polymer Science Charles H. Fisher Emil Fischer's Life Emil Fischer's Research Mono and Polysaccharides Amino Acids, Polypeptides, and Proteins Enzymes Depsides and Tannins Hydrazine Derivatives Purines Industrial Products Glycerol Esters Fischer's Son Emil's Last Years Chapter 7 The Development of Thermosets by Lee Baekeland and other Early 20th Century Chemists Early Developments in Thermosetting Plastics Phenolic Resins Amino Resins Polyester Resins Epoxy Resins Thermoset Chemistry Baekeland - Outside the Laboratory Chapter 8 Hermann Staudinger - Father of Modern Polymer Science Herman F. Mark Hermann Staudinger 63 63 63 66 73 73 74 75 75 76 76 76 77 77 78 78 81 81 81 85 88 89 89 90 91 91 93 93 93
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 8 cont. Classical Organic Chemist New Concepts, New Vistas Impact Honors and Awards Chapter 9 JC Patrick - Father of American Synthetic Elastomers Biographical Data The Invention of Thiokol Exodus from Kansas City Large Scale Production Liquid Thiokol Conclusions Chapter 10 Waldo Lionsbury Semon - Pioneer in PVC Chapter 11 Raymond F Boyer - Thermoplastic Pioneer Chapter 12 Wallace Hume Carothers - Innovator, Motivator, Pioneer C.s. Marvel, Charles E. Carraher, Jr. Prologue Developing Years Discovery Recognition and Closure Chapter 13 Herman F Mark - Father of Polymer Education ix 94 97 99 106 111 111 111 113 114 115 115 116 117 119 121 123 125 127 127 127 128 132 141 143 145 145 151
x TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 14 Pauling on Mark Linus Pauling 153 Chapter 15 Paul J Flory - Nobel Laureate and Polymer Scientist Chapter 16 Carl S Marvel - The Grand Old Gentleman of Polymer Science Chapter 17 William Joseph Sparks - Co-Inventor of Butyl Rubber Table I US Synthetic Rubber Production William Joseph Sparks: Creative Inventor and Statesman for Science William J Sparks - Honors Chapter 18 Robert M Thomas - Co-Inventor of Butyl Rubber Chapter 19 Maurice Loyal Huggins - A Pioneer in Solution Theory Chapter 20 Karl Ziegler, Father of High Density Polyethylene 165 165 165 171 173 173 176 177 177 178 180 181 187 188 193 193 193 197 197 197 201 201 206
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 21 Giulio Natta - A Pioneer in Polypropylene Chapter 22 Otto Bayer - Father of Polyurethanes Chapter 23 John P Hogan and Robert Banks - Inventors of Linear Polyolefins Chapter 24 Modern Pioneers in Plastics, Fibers, Inorganic Polymers, Elastomer, and Engineering Polymers Herman Alexander Bruson Arthur Maynard Bueche Peter Joseph William Debye James Economy Carlton Ellis Daniel Wayne Fox Charles Goodyear John Gough Ernst Alfred Hauser Roelof Houwink Stephanie L Kwolek R Bruce Merrifield Paul W Morgan Iwan Iwanowitch Ostromislensky Roy Plunkett Eugene George Rochow Paul Schlack Charles Sadron George Stafford Whitby Conclusion Subject Index Name Index xi 207 207 212 213 213 213 219 221 225 227 227 228 229 231 232 233 234 236 237 238 240 241 242 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 265