Nathaniel Wyeth (inventor)
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel C. Wyeth was an American
mechanical engineer
and inventor. He is best known for creating a polyethylene terephthalate
beverage container that could withstand the pressure of carbonated liquids
. Made of recyclable PET
plastic, lighter than glass
and virtually unbreakable, Wyeth's invention is used widely today for both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.
, he displayed an engineering talent throughout his youth. Wyeth held bachelor's and master's in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania
. He married Caroline Pyle. Biographer David Michaelis found less evidence than some local residents who were inclined to think Caroline and Wyeth's father, N. C. Wyeth
, carried on a relationship. Caroline died in 1973 and later Wyeth married Jean Grady in 1984.
Wyeth and Caroline had Howard, John, David, N. Convers, Andrew, and one daughter, Caroline, who died very young. A fifth son, Newell, died with N.C. Wyeth (Wyeth's father), when their car stalled on a railroad crossing near their home and they were struck by a milk train.
Wyeth is also known as the brother of painters Andrew Wyeth
and Henriette Wyeth Hurd
, the father of musician Howard Wyeth
, and as the son of artist and illustrator N. C. Wyeth
.
Wyeth often called himself "the other Wyeth" because N.C. and Andrew Wyeth were so well known.
in 1936 as a field engineer. By 1963 he was the company's first engineering fellow and when he retired in 1976, was DuPont's first senior engineering fellow, the company's highest technical position.
In 1967, he pondered whether soda could be stored in plastic bottles. After experimenting with a plastic detergent bottle that proved incapable of withstanding the forces of pressurized liquids, he realized that a much stronger material would be required. He initially experimented with polypropylene
, but ultimately settled on polyethylene terephthalate
as the material and received the patent in 1973.
Wyeth received the 1981 Society of Plastics Engineers international award for outstanding achievement, and was inducted into the Society of the Plastics Industry Hall of Fame in 1986. He was a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Wyeth was the first person ever named senior engineering fellow at DuPont, the company's highest technical position. Nathaniel invented or co-invented twenty five products.
Wyeth's other innovations included improvements to manufacturing process, plastics, textiles, electronics and mechanical devices.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mechanical engineer
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
and inventor. He is best known for creating a polyethylene terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate , commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P, is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers; beverage, food and other liquid containers; thermoforming applications; and engineering resins often in combination...
beverage container that could withstand the pressure of carbonated liquids
Carbonation
Carbonation is the process of dissolving carbon dioxide in water. The process usually involves carbon dioxide under high pressure. When the pressure is reduced, the carbon dioxide is released from the solution as small bubbles, which cause the solution to "fizz." This effect is seen in carbonated...
. Made of recyclable PET
Recycling of PET Bottles
Bottles made of PET are recycled to reuse the material out of which they are made and to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills....
plastic, lighter than glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
and virtually unbreakable, Wyeth's invention is used widely today for both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.
Biography
Born in Pennsylvania near Chadds FordChadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania
Chadds Ford Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, about 30 miles southwest of Philadelphia. Prior to 1996, Chadds Ford Township was known as Birmingham Township, Delaware County, and the name was changed to allow the township to correspond to both its...
, he displayed an engineering talent throughout his youth. Wyeth held bachelor's and master's in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He married Caroline Pyle. Biographer David Michaelis found less evidence than some local residents who were inclined to think Caroline and Wyeth's father, N. C. Wyeth
N. C. Wyeth
Newell Convers Wyeth , known as N.C. Wyeth, was an American artist and illustrator. He was the pupil of artist Howard Pyle and became one of America's greatest illustrators...
, carried on a relationship. Caroline died in 1973 and later Wyeth married Jean Grady in 1984.
Wyeth and Caroline had Howard, John, David, N. Convers, Andrew, and one daughter, Caroline, who died very young. A fifth son, Newell, died with N.C. Wyeth (Wyeth's father), when their car stalled on a railroad crossing near their home and they were struck by a milk train.
Wyeth is also known as the brother of painters Andrew Wyeth
Andrew Wyeth
Andrew Newell Wyeth was a visual artist, primarily a realist painter, working predominantly in a regionalist style. He was one of the best-known U.S. artists of the middle 20th century....
and Henriette Wyeth Hurd
Henriette Wyeth
Henriette Wyeth Hurd was an American artist noted for portraits and still life paintings. She was the wife of artist Peter Hurd, daughter of illustrator N.C. Wyeth and sister of artist Andrew Wyeth. She was also the mother of artist Michael Hurd...
, the father of musician Howard Wyeth
Howard Wyeth
Howard Pyle Wyeth , also known as Howie Wyeth, was an American drummer and pianist. Wyeth is remembered for work with the saxophonist James Moody, the rockabilly singer Robert Gordon, the electric guitarist Link Wray, the rhythm and blues singer Don Covay, and the folk singer Christine Lavin...
, and as the son of artist and illustrator N. C. Wyeth
N. C. Wyeth
Newell Convers Wyeth , known as N.C. Wyeth, was an American artist and illustrator. He was the pupil of artist Howard Pyle and became one of America's greatest illustrators...
.
Wyeth often called himself "the other Wyeth" because N.C. and Andrew Wyeth were so well known.
Career
Wyeth joined DuPontDuPont
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...
in 1936 as a field engineer. By 1963 he was the company's first engineering fellow and when he retired in 1976, was DuPont's first senior engineering fellow, the company's highest technical position.
In 1967, he pondered whether soda could be stored in plastic bottles. After experimenting with a plastic detergent bottle that proved incapable of withstanding the forces of pressurized liquids, he realized that a much stronger material would be required. He initially experimented with polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
, but ultimately settled on polyethylene terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate , commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P, is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers; beverage, food and other liquid containers; thermoforming applications; and engineering resins often in combination...
as the material and received the patent in 1973.
Wyeth received the 1981 Society of Plastics Engineers international award for outstanding achievement, and was inducted into the Society of the Plastics Industry Hall of Fame in 1986. He was a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Wyeth was the first person ever named senior engineering fellow at DuPont, the company's highest technical position. Nathaniel invented or co-invented twenty five products.
Wyeth's other innovations included improvements to manufacturing process, plastics, textiles, electronics and mechanical devices.
External links
- Nathaniel C. Wyeth at the "Plastics Academy Hall of Fame".
- Nathaniel C. Wyeth at the "Polymer Processing Hall of Fame".