Dr. Daniel W. Fox and LEXAN polycarbonate (GE Plastics press release, reproduced with permission
Dr. Daniel W. Fox (about 1927 - February 15 1989) was a polymer chemist who is often regarded as the father of LEXAN. LEXAN is the flagship product of GE Plastics (a division of General Electric) and is used in everything from CDs and DVDs to car bumpers and Nalgene products. Though Dr. Fox is often credited with the invention of LEXAN resin, the patent and agreement to share the plastic between Bayer and General Electric is much more complicated than the simplistic "Father of LEXAN Polycarbonate" title bestowed upon Dr. Fox by many sources. Bottles made of Lexan LEXAN® is a registered trademark for General Electric Companys brand of highly-durable polycarbonate resin thermoplastic intended to replace glass where strength justifies its cost. ... Bottles made of Lexan LEXAN® is a registered trademark for General Electric Companys brand of highly-durable polycarbonate resin thermoplastic intended to replace glass where strength justifies its cost. ... The General Electric Company, or GE, (NYSE: GE) is a multinational technology and services company. ... The General Electric Company, or GE (NYSE: GE) is a multinational technology and services company. ... The classic Nalgene bottle Nalgene (sometimes referred to as Nalge Nunc International) is a distributor and manufacturer of plastic laboratory containers that has diversified into the field of containers for outdoor sports. ... Bayer AG (German pronunciation BYE-er, in US usually pronounced BAY-er) (NYSE: BAY, TYO: 4863 ) is a German chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in 1863. ...
Dr. Fox began his academic career at Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania. 1 He graduated in 1948 with a degree in chemistry. He then continued his education at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, obtaining both his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from this institution. 2 Lebanon Valley College (also referred to as “LVC,†“Lebanon Valley†and “The Valleyâ€) is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville, Pennsylvania. ... The University of Oklahoma (OU) is an institution of higher learning located in Oklahoma. ...
Upon his graduation, he was hired by General Electric in Schenectady, New York as the new manager of chemical development. It was there in 1953 that he invented LEXAN while working on a project to develop new wire insulation material. For the next 35 years, he produced ground breaking research in his field and eventually was the holder of 44 patents. He retired from GE in June 1988, but continued his polymer research until his death in February 1989. 1
At GE, his employees often referred to themselves as students of "Dan Fox University" because of Dr. Fox's impressive ability to recognize and promote young, talented scientists. Jack Welch, former CEO and chairman of GE, was one of the most notable students to graduate from Dan Fox University.
Awards, Honors, and Achievements
He was the recipient of GE's first Steinmetz Award in 1973, a recognition of their top scientists.
He was the youngest living person to be inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1976.
He held 44 patents.
He developed LEXAN, a strong and useful thermoplastic products, that is credited with kicking off the thermoplastics business.
Selected Journal Articles
Fox, Daniel W., Peters, Edward N. (1985). Engineering thermoplastics: Chemistry and technology. ACS Symposium Series, 495-514.
Even though Dr. Fox is often credited with the invention of this plastics product, he was not the first. In 1955, Fox applied for a patent, two years after his initial discovery of the material. In the same year, Bayer in Germany had also applied for a U.S. patent on a molecule invented by Dr. Hermann Schnell that was virtually identical to Fox's. So before it was decided who was to receive the patent, GE and Bayer entered into an agreement that stipulated whoever received the US patent would agree to allow the other to operate by paying a royalty to the patent holder. This worked out in GE's favor after the patent was awarded to Bayer because Schnell's date of invention preceded Fox's by only one week. Dr. Fox may be considered the father of LEXAN polycarbonate, but indeed he shares that honor with Dr. Schnell. 3
External links
Lebanon Valley College "Daniel Fox Youth Scholars Institute"
Fox Broadcasting Semi-Caves to CAIR The Fox Broadcasting Company's new season of the action drama, 24, tells about an Islamist gang engaged in major terrorism in the United States.
Not content with this semi-cave, CAIR has spun the Fox concession to make it appear as greater than it was: WorldNetDaily.com's Art Moore exposes the "exaggerations" in its press release concerning changes in the storyline and showing the PSAs in proximity to 24.
Fox spokesman Scott Grogin refused to comment on the former and explicitly denied the latter.
DanielFox, born October 29, 1786 in Wilkes County, North Carolina; died December 13, 1848 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.
Daniel Crittendon Fox, born May 12, 1826 in Hopkins County, Kentucky; died July 06, 1884 in Dalton, Hopkins County, Kentucky; married Margaret Ann Russell February 1849 in Hopkins County, Kentucky; born May 24, 1824 in Hopkins County, Kentucky; died December 30, 1894 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.
DanielFox, born October 29, 1786 in Wilkes County, North Carolina; died December 13, 1848 in Hopkins County, Kentucky; married Elizabeth "Betsy" Davis August 29, 1803 in Pendleton District, South Carolina.
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