Frank Brian Mercer
Encyclopedia
Frank Brian Mercer OBE FRS (22 Dec 1927 - 22 Nov 1998) was an English chemist and businessman.
He was born into a Blackburn family, which for generations had been involved in the textile industry and which owned and controlled companies engaged in spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing(1) and educated at the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn
.
In the 1950s, he invented the Netlon process, in which plastics are extruded into a net-like process in one stage, winning the Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement. With his inspiration, leadership and drive, he founded Netlon Ltd in 1959 to manufacture the products but most importantly to commercialise the concept. Throughout Brian Mercer’s career, he strongly believed in the importance of cooperative research and development through instigating discussion and debate through international commercial and technical conferences.
In 1978 he became a Fellow of the Institute of Materials and the second person to receive their Prince Philip Award. He was elected a Fellow of the Textile Institute in 1973 and in 1988 it bestowed on him an Honorary Fellowship. In 1981 he received the OBE and in 1984 was made a Fellow of the Royal Society
. He made a bequest to the Royal Society to establish the Brian Mercer Award for Feasibility, which is given to allow researchers to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of commercialising an aspect of their scientific research.
Modern Tensar geogrids were invented by Dr. Mercer in the late 1970s and early 1980s for the construction industry to provide stabilisation and reinforcement with the underlying concept of simplicity, flexibility and strength. They are now used throughout the world for soil reinforcement applications.
He was born into a Blackburn family, which for generations had been involved in the textile industry and which owned and controlled companies engaged in spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing(1) and educated at the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Blackburn, Lancashire, founded in 1509 as a boys' school. The term "school" is usually used to collectively refer to the following:...
.
In the 1950s, he invented the Netlon process, in which plastics are extruded into a net-like process in one stage, winning the Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement. With his inspiration, leadership and drive, he founded Netlon Ltd in 1959 to manufacture the products but most importantly to commercialise the concept. Throughout Brian Mercer’s career, he strongly believed in the importance of cooperative research and development through instigating discussion and debate through international commercial and technical conferences.
In 1978 he became a Fellow of the Institute of Materials and the second person to receive their Prince Philip Award. He was elected a Fellow of the Textile Institute in 1973 and in 1988 it bestowed on him an Honorary Fellowship. In 1981 he received the OBE and in 1984 was made a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. He made a bequest to the Royal Society to establish the Brian Mercer Award for Feasibility, which is given to allow researchers to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of commercialising an aspect of their scientific research.
Modern Tensar geogrids were invented by Dr. Mercer in the late 1970s and early 1980s for the construction industry to provide stabilisation and reinforcement with the underlying concept of simplicity, flexibility and strength. They are now used throughout the world for soil reinforcement applications.
Further reading
- Burland, J,B (2009), Opening Address, Jubilee Symposium on Polymer Geogrid Reinforcement. ISBN 978-0-9565939-0-0, Published 2010
- http://royalsociety.org/Brian-Mercer-Awards-for-Innovation/
- http://royalsociety.org/Brian-Mercer-Feasibility-Awards/
- http://www.nce.co.uk/brian-mercer-1927-1998/674493.article
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b_YtG6Y3mc
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qscLgW32L-I&feature=channel