Oral history interview with Roy J. Plunkett 1986 14 April and 27 May

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Oral history interview with Roy J. Plunkett 1986 14 April and 27 May

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/710362904

Roy Plunkett starts this conversation with James Bohning by describing his family background. As the family were members of the Church of the Brethren it was natural for Plunkett to attend Manchester College, where Paul Flory was a close friend and near contemporary. Despite the rigors of the Depression, Roy Plunkett was able to complete his chemistry studies at Manchester College and to go to Ohio State University for graduate work in carbohydrate chemistry. An offer from DuPont sent Plunkett to the Jackson laboratories and the refrigerants group where an early assignment was the synthesis of tetrafluoroethylene. Plunkett tells the story of the plugged gas cylinder and his recognition of the unusual properties of the polymer. However, soon after this, Plunkett was moved to tetraethyl lead manufacture; he details his work there and his later career in the Organic Chemicals Department. The interview ends with the recognition of his pioneer work with Teflon and the honors it has brought him. In a brief second interview, Roy Plunkett tells of his common religious background with Paul Flory, their student days at Manchester College and Ohio State University, and their contacts over the years. The conversation ends with further recollections of the circumstances of the initial discovery of tetrafluoroethylene polymerization.

Sound files ; digital, mp3 fileTranscript : (43 leaves) ; 29 cm.

Chemical Heritage Foundation, Othmer Library of Chemical History

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SNAC Resource ID: 8072817

Chemical Heritage Foundation, Othmer Library of Chemical History

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Plunkett, Roy J. (Roy Joseph), 1910-1994

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65x63c4 (person)

Born in New Carlisle, Ohio on 26 June 1910. Died on 12 May 1994. Education: A.B., Chemistry, Manchester College (1932), M.Sc., Chemistry, Ohio State University (1933), Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Ohio State University (1936). Employment: 1936-1975 E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc. From the description of Oral history interview with Roy J. Plunkett 1986 14 April and 27 May (Chemical Heritage Foundation). WorldCat record id: 710362904 Roy J. Plunkett was th...

Bohning, James J.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61n8ggs (person)

Chemical Heritage Foundation.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jq5h3g (corporateBody)

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64r1jw9 (corporateBody)

The family firm of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company was established in 1802 and during the 19th century it became one of the United States' most important manufacturers of black powder. In 1902 three younger du Pont cousins: T. Coleman, Alfred I., and Pierre S. took over the company and within three years succeeded in bringing 75% of the American explosives industry (which at that time included black powder, dynamite, and smokeless powder) under their control. During the first decade of the...