William Hanford
Olin Corporation
Inducted 1996
Dr. William Hanford (1908 – 1996) is credited as the co-inventor of commercial polyurethanes (PURs) and received more than 120 patents, most related to polymer science. While other scientists in Germany also conducted other work on PURs, Hanford’s initial PUR patent is cited as the basis for all other PUR materials.
Dr. William Hanford had a long and distinguished career in the plastics and chemical industries, specifically as a researcher in polymer science and polymer synthesis. In 1942, Hanford and Dr. Donald F. Holmes received a patent (assigned to E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company) regarded as the first public disclosure of PUR chemistry.
Known throughout the industry as “Butch,” Hanford was born in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois. He worked at E.I. du Pont de Nemours from 1935 to 1942, then served as head of research at other corporations, including Olin Corporation, where he was Vice-president of Research and Development until his retirement in 1973. Following his retirement from Olin, he and his son William E. Hanford, Jr. founded World Water Resources, Incorporated, which distributes water-purification chemicals to less developed countries.
During his career as a polymer chemist, Hanford did important research in polyamides (nylons), polyesters, fluoropolymers, and other polymers. His work at du Pont made possible the commercialization of Teflon® fluoropolymer.
Hanford received several honors and recognitions for his pioneering work in polymer chemistry. In 1991, Hanford and Holmes were elected to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Hanford’s other honors are the Chemical Industry Medal of the Chemical Industry and the American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Edward_Hanford
Areas of Expertise: Plastic materials