Charles Stine
Encyclopedia
Charles Milton Altland Stine (1882–1954) was a chemist and a vice-president of DuPont
who created the laboratory from which nylon
and other significant inventions were made. He was also a devout Christian who authored a book about religion and science.
After receiving a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University
in 1907, Stine began work in Dupont's research laboratories on a project to make explosives safer to handle. With C.C. Ahlum, he used sodium sulfite
as a purifying agent to crystallize trinitrotoluol (TNT). After studying the leakage of liquid components from dynamite
, Stine was able to develop a more stable version of the explosive for use in mining. He developed improved methosds for manufacture of ammonium nitrate, extraction of tetryl
from dimethylanine, picric acid
from chlorobenzene
, and for chlorinating benzene. During the 1920s, synthetic resins were developed in his laboratories, and improved processes were found for manufacturing nitric acid
and sulfuric acid
.
After becoming director of Dupont's chemical department in 1924, Dr. Stine was able to hire Dr. Wallace Carothers
away from teaching at Harvard. Stine lobbied Dupont management for a budget exclusively devoted to speculative research. In 1930, he succeeded in obtaining a $300,000 annual allocation, and concentrated with Carothers on colloid chemistry and development of polymers. Byproducts included a synthetic, chloroprene rubber, but the most notable invention came in 1938 with the creation of nylon.
Among his awards were the Perkin Medal
in 1940.
The Charles M.A. Stine Award of the AIChE is awarded annually by their Materials Engineering and Sciences Division.
The son of a minister, Stine also wrote a book about his faith and his work as a scientist, entitled A Chemist and His Bible, published in 1943. Stine died in 1954 at the age of 72.
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
who created the laboratory from which nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
and other significant inventions were made. He was also a devout Christian who authored a book about religion and science.
After receiving a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1907, Stine began work in Dupont's research laboratories on a project to make explosives safer to handle. With C.C. Ahlum, he used sodium sulfite
Sodium sulfite
Sodium sulfite is a soluble sodium salt of sulfurous acid. It is a product of sulfur dioxide scrubbing, a part of the flue gas desulfurization process...
as a purifying agent to crystallize trinitrotoluol (TNT). After studying the leakage of liquid components from dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
, Stine was able to develop a more stable version of the explosive for use in mining. He developed improved methosds for manufacture of ammonium nitrate, extraction of tetryl
Tetryl
2,4,6-Trinitrophenylmethylnitramine commonly referred to as tetryl is a sensitive explosive compound used to make detonators and explosive booster charges....
from dimethylanine, picric acid
Picric acid
Picric acid is the chemical compound formally called 2,4,6-trinitrophenol . This yellow crystalline solid is one of the most acidic phenols. Like other highly nitrated compounds such as TNT, picric acid is an explosive...
from chlorobenzene
Chlorobenzene
Chlorobenzene is an aromatic organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5Cl. This colorless, flammable liquid is a common solvent and a widely used intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals.-Uses:...
, and for chlorinating benzene. During the 1920s, synthetic resins were developed in his laboratories, and improved processes were found for manufacturing nitric acid
Nitric acid
Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosive and toxic strong acid.Colorless when pure, older samples tend to acquire a yellow cast due to the accumulation of oxides of nitrogen. If the solution contains more than 86% nitric acid, it is referred to as fuming...
and sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula . Its historical name is oil of vitriol. Pure sulfuric acid is a highly corrosive, colorless, viscous liquid. The salts of sulfuric acid are called sulfates...
.
After becoming director of Dupont's chemical department in 1924, Dr. Stine was able to hire Dr. Wallace Carothers
Wallace Carothers
Wallace Hume Carothers was an American chemist, inventor and the leader of organic chemistry at DuPont, credited with the invention of nylon....
away from teaching at Harvard. Stine lobbied Dupont management for a budget exclusively devoted to speculative research. In 1930, he succeeded in obtaining a $300,000 annual allocation, and concentrated with Carothers on colloid chemistry and development of polymers. Byproducts included a synthetic, chloroprene rubber, but the most notable invention came in 1938 with the creation of nylon.
Among his awards were the Perkin Medal
Perkin Medal
The Perkin Medal is an award given annually by the American section of the Society of Chemical Industry to a scientist residing in America for an "innovation in applied chemistry resulting in outstanding commercial development." It is considered the highest honor given in the US industrial chemical...
in 1940.
The Charles M.A. Stine Award of the AIChE is awarded annually by their Materials Engineering and Sciences Division.
The son of a minister, Stine also wrote a book about his faith and his work as a scientist, entitled A Chemist and His Bible, published in 1943. Stine died in 1954 at the age of 72.