Roderic Quirk Explained

Roderic Quirk is an Emeritus University of Akron professor noted for contributions to anionic polymerization technology^[1] that is used to produce butadiene, isoprene and styrene homo and block copolymers.^{[2] [3]}

Education

• 1963 – BS Chemistry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• 1965 – Ph.D. Organic Chemistry under advisor Prof. David Curtin at the University of Illinois
• 1967 – postdoc at University of Pittsburgh under Edward Arnett
• 1974 - held a summer job at Phillips Petroleum in Henry Hsieh's anionic polymerization lab ^[4]

Notable Students

• Frederick Ignatz-Hoover - Eastman technology fellow and 9th editor of Rubber Chemistry and Technology^[5]

Awards

• 2019 – Charles Goodyear Medal of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society
• 2019 – National Academy of Inventors^[6]

Notes and References

1. Book: Hsieh . Henry . Quirk . Roderic P. . Anionic Polymerization Principles and Practical Applications . 14 March 1996 . Tarlor and Francis . Boca Raton . 10.1201/9780585139401 . 9780429168994 . 1 . 31 August 2022.
2. 2019 Charles Goodyear Medalist: Prof. Roderic P. Quirk . Rubber Chemistry and Technology . 2019-01-01 . 92 . 1 . G2 . 10.5254/0035-9475-92.1.G2 .
3. Web site: ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS . rubber.org . ACS Rubber Division . 9 October 2022.
4. News: Meyer . Bruce . Born to Be a Teacher . 18 June 2022 . Rubber and Plastics News . 15 July 2019.
5. News: How market drivers fuel tire additive innovations . 16 August 2022 . Rubber and Plastics News . Crain . 26 November 2018.
6. News: Roderic Quirk named National Academy of Inventors Fellow . 18 June 2022 . Rubber and Plastics News . 4 December 2019.