Paul Flory Biography

Paul Flory, an American chemist, is widely recognized as the pioneer of the science of polymers. His groundbreaking contributions in the field of polymers and macromolecules earned him the prestigious Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1974. Flory’s extensive research focused on understanding the behavior of polymers in solution, leading to significant advancements in solution thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, molar mass distribution, and more. He also developed theories on polymer networks, gelation, anisotropic solutions, and rubber networks. Beyond his scientific achievements, Flory was a passionate advocate for human rights, working in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union after his retirement. Throughout his career, he demonstrated a deep interest in both the theory and practical applications of macromolecules. In addition to the Nobel Prize, Flory received numerous other accolades, including the Charles Goodyear Medal, the Priestley Medal, and the National Medal of Science.

Quick Facts

  • Also Known As: Paul John Flory, Paul J. Flory
  • Died At Age: 75
  • Family:
    • Spouse/Ex-: Emily Catherine Tabor
    • Father: Ezra Flory
    • Mother: Martha Brumbaugh Flory
    • Children: John Flory, Jr, Melinda Flory Groom, Susan Flory Springer
  • Born Country: United States
  • Chemists
  • American Men
  • Died on: September 9, 1985
  • Place of death: Big Sur, California, United States
  • U.S. State: Illinois
  • More Facts
  • Education: Manchester University (Indiana), Ohio State University
  • Awards: Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1974), National Medal of Science (1974), Priestley Medal (1974), Perkin Medal (1977), Elliott Cresson Medal (1971), Peter Debye Award (1969), Charles Goodyear Medal (1968)

Childhood & Early Life

Paul J. Flory was born on June 19, 1910, in Sterling, Illinois. His father, Exra Flory, was a clergyman-educator, and his mother, Martha Brumbaugh Flory, was a school teacher. He had two step-sisters, Margaret and Miriam, and one younger brother, James. Flory attended Elgin High School in Elgin, Illinois, and graduated in 1927. He then enrolled at Manchester College (now Manchester University) in North Manchester, Indiana, where he earned a BS in Chemistry in 1931. It was at Manchester College that he developed a strong interest in science, particularly chemistry, under the guidance of Professor Carl W. Holl.

Career

After completing his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Ohio State University in 1934, Flory joined the Central Research Department of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. There, he worked as a research chemist under Wallace Hume Carothers, the inventor of nylon and neoprene. It was during this time that Flory’s curiosity about polymerization and polymeric substances was sparked. He focused on the physical chemistry of polymers and studied reaction rates in polymerization processes.

Flory introduced the concept of “chain transfer” in polymerization, which improved the understanding of polymer size distribution. In 1938, he began working at the Basic Science Research Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati, where he developed the theory of polymer networks and a mathematical theory for polymerization of compounds with more than two functional groups. During World War II, Flory worked in the industrial sector, first at the Standard Oil Development Company and then at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, where he led a team on polymer fundamentals.

In 1948, Flory accepted an invitation to be the George Fisher Baker Non-Resident Lecturer in Chemistry at Cornell University. This experience led him to join the university as a professor in the fall of that year. He conducted groundbreaking research at Cornell, and in 1953, his book “Principles of Polymer Chemistry” was published, becoming a standard text in the field. Flory applied the concept of “excluded volume” to polymer molecules and developed the Flory-Huggins Solution Theory and the Flory exponent, which contributed to the understanding of polymer movements in solution.

Flory served as the Director of Research at the Mellon Institute of Carnegie Mellon University from 1957 to 1961. He then became a professor of chemistry at Stanford University until his retirement in 1975. Even after retirement, Flory remained active, consulting for companies like DuPont and IBM. He also advocated for oppressed scientists, particularly in the Soviet Union, and served on committees and delegations related to human rights and scientific freedom.

Awards & Achievements

Flory’s groundbreaking work in the field of polymers earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1974. He published over 300 scientific writings and authored several notable books, including “Statistical Mechanics of Chain Molecules” and “Selected Works of Paul J. Flory.”

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1936, Flory married Emily Catherine Tabor, and they had three children together. All of his children pursued careers in science, with his son becoming a geneticist. Flory passed away on September 9, 1985, at the age of 75, due to a heart attack in his weekend home in Big Sur, California. He was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame of Alpha Chi Sigma in 2002. The Flory convention is named after him.

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