Macromolecular Science: Retrospect and Prospect PDF
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Contemporary Topics in POLYMER SCIENCE Volume 1 Macromolecular Science Retrospect and Prospect A Continuation Order Plan is available for this series. A continuation order will bring delivery of each new volume immedIately upon publication. Volumes are billed only upon actual shipment. For further information please contact the publisher. Contemporary Topics in POLYMER SCIENCE Volumel ]Macromolecular Science Retrospect and Prospect Edited by R.D. Ulrich General Electric Plastics Division Noryl Products Department Selkirk, New York PLENUM PRESS· NEW YORK AND LONDON Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Macromolecular science-retrospect and prospect. (Contemporary topics in polymer science; v. 1) Includes index. 1. Macromolecules-Addresses, essays, lectures. 2. American Chemical Society. Division of Polymer Chemistry. I. Ulrich, R. D. II. Series. QD381.7.M3 547'.842 78-6116 ISBN 978-1-4684-2855-1 ISBN 978-1-4684-2853-7 (eBook) DOl 10_1007/978-1-4684-2853-7 Proceedings commemorating the Silver Anniversary of the Division of Polymer Chemistry, Inc. of The American Chemical Society, 1976 ©1978 Plenum Press, New York Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1978 A Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation 227 West 17th Street, New York, N.Y. 10011 All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher Contributors F. A. Bovey C. S. Marvel Polymer Chemistry Department of Chemistry Research Department University of Arizona Bell Laboratories Tucson, Arizona 85721 Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974 Bryce Maxwell F. R. Eirich Polymer Materials Laboratory Polytechnic Institute of New York Department of Chemical Engineering 333 Jay Street Princeton University Brooklyn, New York 11201 Princeton, New Jersey 08540 John D. Ferry Herbert Morawetz Department of Chemistry Department of Chemistry University of Wisconsin Polytechnic Institute of New York Madison, Wisconsin 53706 333 Ja:y Street Brooklyn, New York 11201 Paul J. Flory Department of Chemistry Maurice Morton Stanford University Institute of Polymer Science Stanford, California 94305 University of Akron Akron, Ohio 44325 Maurice L. Huggins 135 Northridge Lane Charles G. Overberger Woodside, California 94062 Vice President for Research University of Michigan Leo Mandelkern Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 Department of Chemistry Institute of Molecular Biophysics A. Peterlin Florida State University Polymers Division Tallahassee, Florida 32306 U.S. Department of Commerce National Bureau of Standards H. F. Mark Washington, D. C. 20234 Dean Emeritus Polytechnic Institute of New York C. E. Schildknecht 333 Jay Street Department of Chemistry Brooklyn, New York 11201 Gettysburg College Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325 v vi CONTRIBUTORS J. K. Stille Robert D. Ulrich Department of Chemistry General Electric Plastics Division Colorado State University Noryl Products Section Fort Collins, Colorado 80523 Selkirk, New York 12158 Michael Szwarc State University of New York Polymer Research Center College of Environment Science and Forestry Syracuse, New York 13210 Speakers at the 25 Year Anniversary of the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry, Atlantic City, New Jersey, September, 1974. Back row, left to right: R.F. Boyer, J.C.H. Hwa, F.H. Winslow, R.D. Ulrich, J.K. Stille, F.R. Mayo; front row, left to right: J.R. Elliot, C.S. Marvel, O. Vogl, H.F. Mark, P.O. Powers. Foreword In 1974, as we approached the National Bicentennial and the Centenary of the American Chemical Society, Professor Otto Vogl, then Chairman of the Division of Polymer Chemistry, arranged a very special symposium dedicated to a review of the history of the Divi sion. It was an extraordinary occasion which included remarks by Professors Herman Mark, Charles Marvel, William Bailey, and Charles Overberger, all past Chairmen of the Division. The Executive Committee of the Division of Polymer Chemistry felt that 1976 deserved even more attention since it was to be also the 25th, the Silver Anniversary, of the Division of Polymer Chemis try. This year would be a most appropriate one not only to review milestones in our discipline, but also to look to the future. It was decided to undertake this volume and Dr. R. D. Ulrich agreed to serve as editor in assembling the collected papers. It is the hope of the officers of the Division that this volume will serve many purposes - a reference text, a record, and a source of perspective. F. E. Bailey Chairman (1976) Division of Polymer Chemistry American Chemical Society vii Contents R. D. Ulrich - The History of the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry, Inc. 1 F. A. Bovey 31 F. R. Eirich 53 J. D. Ferry 63 P. J. Flory 69 M. L. Huggins 99 L. Mandelkern 113 H. F. Mark • 123 C. S. Marvel 133 . B. Maxwell 143 H. Morawetz 153 M. Morton 159 C. G. Overberger 175 A. Peterlin 209 C. E. Schildknecht 233 J. K. Stille 243 M. Szwarc 265 ix The History of ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry, Inc. R.D. Ulrich Prior to 1946 there was no one division in the American Chemical Society which dealt solely with polymers. Papers in the field were spread among several divisions with a large number con centrated in the Division of Paint, Varnish and Plastics Chemistry. Interest in the field of polymer chemistry became so intense that a High Polymer Forum, similar to our present symposium system, was established. The wide range of interest in the polymer field was evidenced by the several divisions sponsoring the Forum: Paint, Varnish and Plastics; Physical, Inorganic; Rubber Chemistry; Cellu lose; Colloid; Organic; and Petroleum. From 1946 to 1949, 162 papers were presented at 27 sessions of The High Polymer Forum. The attendance at each meeting averaged over 300 and was often lim ited by the available facilities. Almost at the inception of the High Polymer Forum, discussion regarding the organization of a Division of High Polymer Chemistry was begun. The ACS by-laws state that: "Any fifty members of the Society in good standing, wishing to organize a Division of the Society, shall set forth in a signed petition, addressed to the Council, the proposed name of the Division, the particular field of Society interest to be stimulated and developed by the proposed Division, and the reasons why it is deemed wise and expedient to establish the Division ... ". A large part of the initiative for the formation at the new Division came from within the Division of Paint, Varnish and Plastics Chemistry, as well as the Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Division, and was spearheaded by individuals such as 2 R.D. ULRICH M.L. Huggins and P.O. Powers. The necessary petition, containing 78 signatures, largely from the New York - New Jersey area, was submitted to the National ACS in October, 1949. In September, 1950, E.H. Volwiler, then president of the ACS, announced formation of the Division of High Polymer Chemistry (later shortened to the Division of Polymer Chemistry). C.S. Marvel, noted for his work with synthetic rubber during W.W. II and at that time associated with the University of Illinois, was appointed chairman. H.F. Mark, internationally recognized as a leading polymer scientist and director of The Polymer Research Institute at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, was appointed secretary treasurer. Other officiers included W.E. Hanford, R.F. Boyer, R.M. Fuoss, J.B. Nichols, P.J. Flory, F.R. Mayo and L.A. Wood - a distinguished list. Concurrent with the formation of the new division, the first meeting was held in Chicago with Topics of Free Radicals in Poly merization, Polymer Solutions and Reactions of Macromolecules being treated in the first symposia. One year later, with a membership of 414 and dues of $2.00, full divisional status was granted. As stated in by-law, Art. 1, Sec. 2., the purpose of the Division is, "to advance knowledge and understanding of the processes of poly merization and of the chemical constitution and chemical and phys ical properties of polymeric materials and to promote basic research in these fields." Almost 25 years have passed since the inception of this Division. During this time, polymers have gained tremendously in both their scientific and commercial importance. Has the Division kept pace with this growth? Has it been responsive to the needs of both the scientific community and society as a whole? It is hoped that the following short review of the Polymer Division's history will provide affirmative answers to these questions. The most obvious growth comparison to be made is that of the polymer industry to the membership in the Division. Figure 1 shows the pounds of plastics and resins produced each year in the U.S. from 1939 to 1972. Notice that the data are in billions of pounds. The growth has been almost exponential in nature. If usage of polymeric materials versus such materials as steel were plotted on a volume basis, the results would be even more striking. It should also be noticed that polymer production did not really begin its growth until after W.W. II, about the time the Polymer Division was coming into creation. Figure 2 depicts the growth of membership in the Division from 1950 to 1973. Comparison with the previous production figures shows an approximately parallel relationship. However,
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