Mark, Herman Francis

Mark, Herman Francis

▪ American chemist
born May 3, 1895, Vienna, Austria
died April 6, 1992, Austin, Texas, U.S.

      Austrian American chemist who, although not the world's first polymer chemist, was known as the father of polymer science because of his many contributions to polymer science education and research.

      In 1913 Mark decided to fulfill his military obligation by enlisting for one year in the Austrian army with the intention of starting college in the fall of 1914. World War I intervened, however, and he spent five years in a mountain infantry regiment; he was wounded three times, earned 15 medals, and became Austria's most decorated company-grade officer. In 1919 he returned to the University of Vienna, which he had attended for a semester in 1915, and received a doctorate in chemistry in 1921. In 1922 he joined the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Fibre Research in Berlin. There he used newly developed experimental methods, such as X-ray diffraction, to study the molecular structures of natural textile fibres (e.g., cellulose, silk, and wool), which he showed to consist of long-chain molecules (macromolecules (macromolecule)) with molecular weights above 10,000.

      In 1926 Mark was invited by Kurt Meyer, the director of IG Farben's polymer reseach laboratory, to be his assistant director. Mark worked on electron diffraction, a monograph (1928) with Meyer on cellulose that demolished the classic micellar theory of polymer formation, an equation relating the viscosity of a polymer solution to the molecular weight of the polymer (1929), and the synthesis and application of his results. His process for the catalytic production of styrene made possible the commercial manufacture of polystyrene and styrene-butadiene rubber (industrial polymers, major).

      In view of the growing Nazi threat, Mark, who was of Jewish descent, left Germany in 1932 to become professor of chemistry at the University of Vienna. There he developed the world's first academic curriculum in polymer science and technology—at a time when only a few laboratories, mostly in industry, cultivated the subject and when no organized university courses were available. In April 1938, following the annexation of Austria by Germany, Mark and his family emigrated to neutral Switzerland. Later that year, Mark became research manager for the Canadian International Pulp and Paper Company in Hawkesbury, Ont., where he modernized methods and equipment, trained laboratory personnel, and applied fundamental knowledge to practical production procedures. In 1940 he became adjunct professor and in 1942 professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (now the Polytechnic Institute of New York), where he organized what later became known as the Polymer Research Institute (the first of its kind in the United States) and continued as its director until he retired in 1964. He was the recipient of many honorary degrees and honours, including the U.S. National Medal of Science (presented in 1980). Throughout his long career Mark visited more than a thousand scientists and engineers in more than a hundred countries, and he continued his extensive travels after his retirement.

George B. Kauffman
 

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Herman Francis Mark — Hermann Franz Mark (* 3. Mai 1895 in Wien; † 6. April 1992 in Austin/Texas), österreichischer Chemiker, gilt als einer der wesentlichen Begründer der modernen Polymerwissenschaften. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Biographie 2 Auszeichnungen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Herman Francis Mark — (May 3, 1895 April 6, 1992) was an Austrian American chemist regarded for his contributions to the development of polymer science. Mark s x ray diffraction work on the molecular structure of fibers provided important evidence for the… …   Wikipedia

  • Herman — is a Dutch and English given name. Its original meaning was army man ( Arman ) and derives from the Germanic elements heri meaning army combined with man meaning man (compare archaic Dutch heer , meaning army and man ). It is cognate with German… …   Wikipedia

  • Herman — puede referirse a: Contenido 1 Nombre 1.1 Santos 1.2 Otros personajes con ese nombre 2 Apellido …   Wikipedia Español

  • Hermann Franz Mark — (* 3. Mai 1895 in Wien; † 6. April 1992 in Austin/Texas), österreichischer Chemiker, gilt als einer der wesentlichen Begründer der modernen Polymerwissenschaften. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Biographie 2 Auszeichnungen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mark O'Meara — Personal information Full name Mark Francis O Meara Born …   Wikipedia

  • Francis J. McCormick — McCormick pictured in The Hinakaga 1951, Carroll yearbook Sport(s) Football, basketball Biographical details …   Wikipedia

  • Francis Schaeffer — Francis August Schaeffer (* 30. Januar 1912; † 15. Mai 1984) war ein US amerikanischer presbyterianischer Theologe und Pastor. Er wurde vor allem im englischsprachigen Raum bekannt durch seine Veröffentlichungen und die Gründung der Kommunität L… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Mark Richt — Richt in May 2008 Sport(s) Football Current position Title Head coach …   Wikipedia

  • Mark O'Meara — Mark O’Meara Personalia Nationalität:  Vereinigte Staaten …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”