Herman F. Mark

Aus den frühen Tagen der Makromolekularen Chemie

Most branches of science pass through a “pioneering period” where different concepts and approaches create, for a while, a turbulent atmosphere until, on the basis of new experimental evidence, clear and durable principles emerge, which lead to a broad and continuous growth of basic understanding and practical application. The author of this article recalls how, temporarily, conflicting ideas created confusion in the chemistry and technology of giant molecules before these disciplines developed into what they are now: indispensable contributors to the comfort, safety and expansion of our society from medicine to astronautics.

Polymers in the next decades

We possess presently numerous simple, easily available and inexpensive raw materials which can be readily used to produce polymeric systems, we know a large number of different reactions which convert small molecules into large ones and there exist many methods to convert tile raw polymers into a great variety of useful products by blending and compounding, and by such processes as extruding, molding, casting and spinning. A conservative extrapolation of each of these three factors should permit us to forecast the most probable developments in the future, those which would not depend on any unexpected breakthrough but which are the result of a legitimate extension of presently existing products and processes. The velocity of a polymerization reaction depends on the number of chains started per unit volume and unit time, on the rate of addition of the individual monomers to the growing chain and on the probabili ty for its termination. There exist already now polymerization reactions which are completed in fractions of a second and it is obvious that they could be speeded up by a factor of 100 or more, if improved conditions would be established such as higher reactivity and puri ty of the monomers, more powerful initiators and favorable ambient conditions. In fact, in certain laboratories very rapid polymerization processes are already successfully studied; they will allow to spin fibers directly from a dope consisting of monomers, fillers, pigments, antistatics and flameproofing agents at speeds of 4000-5 000 yards per minute at ambient temperature without the use of any additional liquid such as a solvent or a bath. They will make it possible to cast self-supporting films at high speed without solvents and at low temperatures to deposit coatings and printing inks on a support within fractions of a second and to establish strong adhesive bonds instantaneously.

Visit to China in June, 1972

About a dozen of educational institutions, research laboratories and production units were visited during three weeks in five different locations. All activities are pervaded by a deep patriotic spirit, an intense desire to learn and to catch up with the leading nations. There exists already a sound knowledge of all basic ideas and facts; equipment is still not up to date but all efforts are made to improve it. In every area a strong tendency exists to utilize to the fullest the enormous human resources in number, intelligence and cooperativeness.

Hermann Staudinger Father of Modern Polymer Science

Staudinger’s importance to the development of Polymer Chemistry rests on a threefold activity which he maintained with never failing enthusiasm for more than 30 years: as a scientist, as a teacher, and as a preacher. Guided by true scientific curiosity for the unknown, Staudinger selected as the work of his life, in the early 1930’s, a field which, at that time, was hardly considered to be a worthy goal for an organic chemist of his reputation — the study of the natural organic substances of high molecular weight. Until then, Staudinger had cultivated typical problems of classical chemistry with well-defined substances which could be characterized by such standard methods as melting and boiling point, freezing point depression, and boiling point elevation.

Applied Polymer Science — A Forecast

This lecture attempts to forecast into the first decade of the 21st century new developments, expansions and targets of polymer science and engineering. The emphasis shall not be led on the prediction of quantities, production facilities and prices of the large “commodity plastics” but rather on the probable appearance of new molecules and processing techniques which are expected to open up new domains of properties and applications.

Polyolefins — What Next?

In this Symposium on “Advances in Polyolefins” a galaxy of distinguished experts have presented an impressive and stimulating account of the recent developments in Science and Engineering of this important class of polymeric materials. Professor Raymond B. Seymour, the organizer of the Symposium has kindly asked me to add a “Concluding Chapter” to it. This chapter could have been a “Summary” or a “Forecast.” The other chapters represent a closely knit and complete survey of the “Advances” — therefore, a “Summary” would not make much sense.

Review and Preview on Polymer Technology

Abstract We presently possess numerous simple, easily available, and inexpensive raw materials which can be readily used to produce polymeric systems; we know a large number of different reactions which convert small molecules into large ones; and there exist many methods to convert the raw polymers into a great variety of useful products by blending, by compounding, and by such processes as extruding, molding, casting, and spinning. A conservative extrapolation of each of these three factors should permit us to forecast the most probable developments in the future, those which would not depend on any unexpected breakthrough but which are the result of a legitimate extension of presently existing products and processes.