Chains of Opportunity: The University of Akron and the Emergence of The Polymer Age 1909–2007

APPENDIX C

APPENDIX C rubber and polymer coursework: 1917, 1956, 2006 Over the past century of teaching rubber chemistry, polymer science, and polymer engineering, the instruction has evolved from a single course to an entire college. A selection of educational offerings in 1917, 1956, and 2006, demonstrate this evolution. In 1917, Hezzleton Simmons published the lectures to his rubber chemistry course in The Rubber Age. At the time, it was the only such academic course of its kind in the United States. The titles of those lectures are as follows:2 lecture # lecture title Intro The Laboratories and Equipment of the University of Akron 1 The History of Caoutchouc 2 Rubber of the Amazon Basin 3 African Rubbers Including Those from Madagascar 4 Central American Rubbers 5 Rubber Plantations and Their Development 6 Discussion of Colloids 7 The Colloidal Action of Crude Rubber and Its Applicability in Rubber Manufacture 8 Different Means of Coagulation 9 Theory of the Constitution of Rubber 10 Synthetic Caoutchouc 11 Chemical and Physical Testing of Crude Rubber 12 The Manufacture and Use of Inorganic FIllers 272 Bowles.267-364 6/16/08 4:24 PM Page 272 13 The Manufacture and Use of Organic Accelerators 14 The Manufacture and Use of Rubber Substitutes 15 Theories of Vulcanization 16 Methods of Reclaiming Rubber 17 Preparation of Crude Rubber for Manufacturing 18 The Principles of Compounding 19 Chemical Analysis of Manufactured Rubber 20 Physical Testing of Compounded Samples The following list identifies the complete number of polymer academic courses offered throughout the United States in 1956, the year that the University of Akron began its Ph.D. in polymer chemistry.3 school # of courses courses offered University of Akron 9 Chemistry of Polymers, Chemistry of Polymers Laboratory, Chemistry of Latex Laboratory , Chemistry of Rubber Technology, Chemistry of Rubber Laboratory, Physical Chemistry of High Polymers, Experimental Physical Chemistry of Polymers, Mechanical Behavior of Polymers, Research in Rubber and Plastics Case Institute of 7 Technology of Plastics, Physical Chemistry Technology of Polymerization, Physical Chemistry of High Polymers, Mechanical and Electrical Properties of High Polymers, Organic Chemistry of High Polymers, Advanced Technology of High Polymers , High Polymer Laboratory University of 6 Colloid Chemistry of High Polymeric Southern California Materials, Organic Chemistry, Basic Rubber Technology, Rubber Technology II, Rubber Technology III, Rubber Technology Laboratory I and II Michigan State 5 Polymerization, Plastics, Surface Coatings, University Technology of Fibers and Plastics, Surface Chemistry Polytechnic Institute 4 Introductory Polymer Chemistry, Organic of Brooklyn Polymer Chemistry, Polymerization Kinetics, Mechanical Behavior of High Polymers appendix c 273 Bowles.267-364 6/16/08 4:24 PM Page 273 school # of courses courses offered University of Michigan 4 Introduction to High Polymers, Polymerization Process, Structure and Properties of High Polymers, Organic Chemistry of Synthetic Polymers Wayne University 4 Technology of High Polymers, Principles of Chemical Technology, Physical Chemistry of Polymers, Seminar in Polymer and Colloid Chemistry Cornell University 3 Technology of High Polymers, Organic Chemistry of High Polymers, Physical Chemistry of High Polymers Illinois Institute of 3 Principles of Rubber Compounding I, Technology Principles of Rubber Compounding II, Colloidal and Amorphous Materials Massachusetts Institute 2 Colloid Science of High Molecular of Technology Compounds, Colloid Science of Silicon Northeastern University 2 Rubber Technology I, Rubber Technology II University of 2 Rubber Compounding, Rubber Rhode Island Chemistry Gidley Research Institute 1 Rubber Chemistry and Technology John Marshall Law School 1 Basic Course in Rubber Compounding Kent State University 1 Industrial Chemistry New York Rubber Group 1 Elastomer Technology Princeton University 1 Plastics Program University of Buffalo 1 Elements of Polymer Chemistry Villanova University 1 Basic Rubber Technology Below are the graduate-level courses offered in 2006 at the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, a half-century after the founding of the polymer chemistry Ph.D. program. Core graduate-level courses for the master’s and doctoral degrees in polymer science, 2006: Master’s Degree Core 9871:601 Polymer Concepts 9871:613 Polymer Science Laboratory 9871:631 Physical Properties of Polymers I appendix c 274 Bowles.267-364 6/16/08 4:24 PM Page 274 9871:674 Polymer Structure and Characterization 9871:701 Polymer Technology Ph.D. Degree Core 9871:601 Polymer Concepts 9871:602 Synthesis and Chemical Behavior of Polymers 9871:704 Condensation Polymerization 9871:705 Free Radical Reactions in Polymer Science 9871:706 Ionic and Monomer Insertion Reactions 9871:674 Polymer Structure and Characterization 9871:675 Polymer Thermodynamics 9871:631 Physical Properties of Polymers...