Samuel E. Horne Jr., Date of Birth, Date of Death

Samuel E. Horne Jr.

Goodrich chemist who first polymerized synthetic polyisoprene using Ziegler catalyst

Date of Birth: 26-Jul-1924

Date of Death: 04-Feb-2006

Profession: engineer, chemist

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Samuel Emmett Horne Jr.
(July 26, 1924 –February 4, 2006) was a research scientist at B.
F.
Goodrich noted for first synthesizing cis-1,4-polyisoprene, the main polymer contained in natural tree rubber, using Ziegler catalysis.
Earlier attempts to produce synthetic rubber from isoprene had been unsuccessful, but in 1955, Horne prepared 98 percent cis-1,4-polyisoprene via the stereospecific polymerization of isoprene.
The product of this reaction differs from natural rubber only slightly.
It contains a small amount of cis-1,2-polyisoprene, but it is indistinguishable from natural rubber in its physical properties.The importance of Horne's development of synthetic polyisoprene and polybutadiene is readily seen in the production of these polymers.
In 2008, global production of polybutadiene was 2,042,000 metric tons (exceeded only by SBR in capacity and production).
Production of polyisoprene was 611,000 metric tons (Russia, 415,000; Asia, 78,000; US, 90,000; Europe, 25,000).In 1980, the ACS Rubber Division honored Horne with the Charles Goodyear Medal.
In 1982, he received an honorary doctorate from Emory University.