Robert M. Thomas Explained
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".
External links
Notes and References
- Thomas . R. M. . Early History of Butyl Rubber. Charles Goodyear Medal Address—1969. . Rubber Chemistry and Technology . 1969 . 42 . 4 . G90-G96 . 10.5254/1.3539292.
- Thomas . R. M. . Sparks . W. J. . Frolich . P. K. . Otto . M. . Mueller-Cunradi . M. . Preparation and structure of high molecular weight polybutenes . Journal of the American Chemical Society . 1940 . 6 . 2 . 276-280 . 10.1021/ja01859a010.
- Book: Seymour . Raymond B. . Mark . Herman F. . Fisher . Charles H. . Pauling . Linus . Carraher . Charles E. . Stahl . G. Allan . Sperling . L. H. . Marvel . C. S. . Pioneers in Polymer Science . 2012 . Springer . Netherlands . 9789400924079 . 19 January 2024.
- Kennedy . J.P. . Goodyear Medalist Lecture: Rubber Research in the Service of Mankind . Rubber Chemistry and Technology . 2008 . 81 . 2 . 169–181 . 10.5254/1.3548201.
- Web site: Interview with Robert M. Thomas. 1969. Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society: Oral History Series. Summit Memory. 13 May 2013. mp3.
- Web site: Science & Technology Awards | Rubber Division, ACS .
