Robert M. Thomas
Robert McKee Thomas (1908 – July 23, 1984) was a co-inventor of butyl rubber,[1][2] along with William J. Sparks.[3] Thomas held 75 patents, and directed the work of several notable polymer scientists including Francis P. Baldwin and Joseph Kennedy[4]. He worked at the Standard Oil Company, in New Jersey, starting work in 1929 after obtaining a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He retired in 1965.[5]
The ACS Rubber Division's Sparks-Thomas award is named after Thomas and Butyl rubber co-inventor William J. Sparks.[6]
In 1969, he received the Charles Goodyear Medal.
Thomas was famously quoted by Joseph Kennedy for the advice Kennedy received as a young researcher from Thomas: "your project better be useful, otherwise your reward will be a cookie and a handshake".[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Thomas, R. M. (1969). "Early History of Butyl Rubber. Charles Goodyear Medal Address—1969". Rubber Chemistry and Technology. 42 (4): G90–G96. doi:10.5254/1.3539292.
- ^ Thomas, R. M.; Sparks, W. J.; Frolich, P. K.; Otto, M.; Mueller-Cunradi, M. (1940). "Preparation and structure of high molecular weight polybutenes". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 6 (2): 276–280. doi:10.1021/ja01859a010.
- ^ Seymour, Raymond B.; Mark, Herman F.; Fisher, Charles H.; Pauling, Linus; Carraher, Charles E.; Stahl, G. Allan; Sperling, L. H.; Marvel, C. S. (2012). Pioneers in Polymer Science. Netherlands: Springer. ISBN 9789400924079. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ a b Kennedy, J.P. (2008). "Goodyear Medalist Lecture: Rubber Research in the Service of Mankind". Rubber Chemistry and Technology. 81 (2): 169–181. doi:10.5254/1.3548201.
- ^ "Interview with Robert M. Thomas" (mp3). Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society: Oral History Series. Summit Memory. 1969. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ "Science & Technology Awards | Rubber Division, ACS".
External links
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