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TURNER ALFREY, JR.
1918-1981
BY ALFRED E. BROWN
TURNER ALFREY, JR., a giant of a man, died in Midland Hospital
Center on August 10, 1981 . Dr. Alfrey joined Dow Chemical Com-
pany in 1950 and continued an active scientific research program
until the last few weeks before his death. He held Dow's highest
research position, Research Fellow, and was one of only five people
so honored. Turner Alfrey's contributions to polymer science and
engineering were many, and it is no overstatement to say that he
contributed greatly to the scientific underpinnings of industrial poly-
mer technology as it is being practiced today.
Dr. Alfrey was more than a great scientist and engineer. He was
also a great teacher. His unique teaching style, his quiet enthusiasm,
and his humility, along with his ability to simplify and model the
most complex problems, never failed to impress visitors to his labo-
ratory and always left him in great demand. Yet he found the time to
assist anyone who needed help, and his door was never closed. His
patience seemed to be inexhaustible with young scientists and stu-
dents.
Turner Alfrey, Jr., was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, on
May 7, 1918. He was the first of three children born to Cleo Ellen
and Turner Alfrey. The young Alfrey grew up in Muskogee, Okla-
homa, and graduated from Muskogee High School in 1934. From
these beginnings he attended Washington University in St. Louis,
Missouri, where he received a B.S. in chemical engineering in 1938
and an M.S. in physical chemistry in 1940. His Ph.D. degree in
3
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4
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
polymer chemistry was granted by Polytechnic Institute of Brook-
lyn, New York, in 1943.
After working for two years as a research chemist for Monsanto
Chemical Company, Dr. Alfrey returned to the Polytechnic Institute
of Brooklyn as a member of the faculty in the Polymer Institute. His
perhaps best-known work, the classical reference volume Mechanical
Behavior of High Polymers, was completed while he was at the Polymer
Institute. He joined the technical staff of the Dow Chemical Com-
pany in 1950 and quickly made his mark with co-workers. He rose
rapidly through the organization and was the first individual named
to the then highest research title, Research Scientist.
Throughout his career Dr. Alfrey received a number of awards
and honors. These included the A. Cressy Morrison Award by the
New York Academy of Sciences, the gingham Medal by the Society
of Rheology, the International Award in Polymer Chemistry from
the Society of Plastics Engineers, the Witco Award in Polymer
Chemistry by the American Chemical Society, and the H. H. Dow
Medal by the Dow Chemical Company.
Dr. Alfrey was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in
1977. In addition, he was a visiting professor at several universities.
He served on a number of advisory boards and committees, includ-
ing a term as a member of the Committee of Macromolecular
Chemistry of the National Research Council. He was a member of a
number of scientific and professional societies, which induded the
American Chemical Society, the Society of Rheology, the New York
Academy of Sciences, the Society of Plastics Engineers, the Society
of Chemical Industry, and Sigma Xi, and he was a Fellow of the
American Physical Society.
Throughout his career Turner Alfrey, Jr., was author or coauthor
of about 100 technical publications and was inventor or coinventor
of 24 U.S. patents. As mentioned above, he wrote the classical
treatise Mechanical Behavior of High Polymers and, with Mark and
Bohrer, published Copolym~zation, which was the first comprehen-
sive treatment of the subject. In addition, he was coauthor of a text
for polymer engineers and he wrote several other chapters on a
variety of subjects. And, of course, he wrote countless internal com-
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TURNER ALFREY, JR.
5
pany reports, which to a large degree remain proprietary informa-
tion of the Dow Chemical Company.
Dr. Alfrey's fertile and active mind led him scientifically in many
directions, and he seemed to pursue each new endeavor with vigor
and dedication. Polymerization kinetics, organic polymer chemistry,
reactions on polymers, swelling and diffusion behavior, colloid
chemistry, mechanics, property-structure relationships, rheology,
and fabrication technology were all investigated and researched in
depth. At times he seemed to be thoroughly absorbed by his science,
and rarely did he take more than a day or two of vacation a year. To
Turner Alfrey, science was more than a job it was his life, and
perhaps his greatest pleasure was in exposing others to this wonder-
ful world. His laboratory technique was as unique as his approach to
science, and he often fashioned his apparatuses from the simplest of
equipment. In fact, there were those who considered these measure-
ments to be crude; however, they always seemed to have just the
right level of sophistication to unravel the problem without complica-
tions, and he could just as quickly turn to the sophisticated methods
when the occasion required exactness.
There was another side to this man: he was a welcome addition to
any social affair. In his younger days he delighted in outwitting his
co-workers in various contrived mental games. Seemingly always in
good humor, he found just the right degree of eloquence for any
occasion. In writing any tribute to Turner Alfrey, fir., one would be
remiss in not mentioning his wife, Jeannette, who provided contin-
ual support throughout his career.
Turner Alfrey, Jr., the man, the scientist-engineer, demanding of
himself, tolerant of others, left only friends and admirers. His contri-
butions remain as a living memorial to his life.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
chemical company
