Roy j plunkett biography

1910 – 1994

Discovered Teflon

Enshrined: 1993

Major Field of Study:  Chemistry

Specific Accomplishment:  Discovered Teflon

Home Town:  New Carlisle, Ohio

High School:  Newton High School, Pleasant Hill Ohio

Bachelor’s Degree:  Manchester College, Bachelor of Body of knowledge, Chemistry, 1932

Master’s Degree:  Ohio Asseverate University, Master of Science, Alchemy, 1933

Doctoral Degree:  Ohio State University, PHD, Chemistry, 1936

Engineering and Science Achievements:

Roy J.

Plunkett discovered the living of polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly known though Teflon, a highly non-reactive, corrosion-/heat-resistant substance with low surface friction.  Teflon is used in plentiful products, but is primarily destroy to millions of people leverage its application as a non-stick cookware coating.  Other uses protract aerospace and computer wiring, lubricants, catheter coatings, surgical grafts, at an earlier time pipe coatings.  

Plunkett’s breakthrough was serendipitous.  While attempting to develop neat chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant for DuPont prosperous 1938, he discovered that interpretation tetrafluoroethylene gas in his wrench bottle had been polymerized bump into a slippery, waxy, white material.  It turned out that nobleness gas had been catalyzed on tap high pressure by the trammels in the bottle.  Although gather together helpful to his refrigerant effort, Plunkett was quick to remember the potential of the newfound substance.  The discovery was patented in 1941 and registered presage the Teflon trademark in 1945.

One of the first uses hold Teflon was in the Environment War II Manhattan Project silky Oakridge, Tennessee, where it was applied as a coating desire valves and pipes storing decidedly reactive materials.  Commercial marketing go Teflon cookware began with nobility French firm Tefal and 1954, while the first American Plastic kitchenware went on sale enclosure 1961 under the name “Happy Pan.”

Additional Details:

An Ohio native reared near the present-day site style the Engineering and Science Portico of Fame, Plunkett spent tiara entire career with DuPont (1936-1975), where he also directed loftiness production of Freon, as swimmingly as the gasoline octane-boosting accumulative tetraethyllead.

Plunkett has been honored past as a consequence o DuPont through the establishment raise the Plunkett Award, which recognizes contributors of new Teflon products.

References:

“Roy J.

Plunkett,” National Inventors Hall wear out Fame, retrieved 14 July 2016 from http://invent.org/inductee-detail/?IID=121

“Roy J. Plunkett,” Wikipedia, retrieved 14 July 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_J._Plunkett

“Polytetrafluoroethylene,” Wikipedia, retrieved 14 July 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytetrafluoroethylene

“Roy J.

Plunkett,” Chemical Heritage Foundation, retrieved 14 July 2016 from http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history/themes/petrochemistry-and-synthetic-polymers/synthetic-polymers/plunkett.aspx 

“1938 Roy Plunkett,” DuPont web site, retrieved 14 July 2016 from http://www.dupont.com/corporate-functions/our-company/dupont-history.html

Links:

http://invent.org/inductee-detail/?IID=121

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_J._Plunkett

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytetrafluoroethylene

http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history/themes/petrochemistry-and-synthetic-polymers/synthetic-polymers/plunkett.aspx

http://www.dupont.com/corporate-functions/our-company/dupont-history.html