Summer 2001 -- Vol. 18, No. 2

FACES OF PENN STATE

Harry Allcock
Evan Pugh Professor of Chemistry

At Penn State, thanks in large part to chemist Harry Allcock, polymer research has a strong reputation. His discovery of polyphosphazenes has led to the development of more than 700 different polymers.

Research groups often address only one of two types of scientific questions—those that lead to a specific application or those necessary for a fundamental understanding. Just as the work of experimentalists and theorists differs, typical researchers do not commonly address both applied and fundamental questions.

Chemist Harry Allcock has never been a typical researcher. He believes fundamentals and applications build from and upon each other. As a result, his research regarding polymers follows what has become a rather successful blueprint.

“We conduct long-range fundamental research as a first step,” Allcock says. “Then, we transpose that into examining the characteristics and properties of new materials. Finally, we try to move what we have learned into an applications area.”

At the heart of Allcock’s research are polyphosphazenes, a broad class of macromolecules with a highly flexible inorganic phosphorus-nitrogen backbone. His discovery and use of polyphosphazenes has resulted in the creation of a variety of organic, organometallic, and inorganic polymers. So far, more than 700 have been synthesized. Each features the same backbone with different side groups, comprising quite a versatile group of materials because each side group creates different characteristics for each individual polymer. More than 400 publications from his research program have been the stimulus for more than 5,000 papers in this area from others groups.

Allcock works to create hybrid materials that bridge the gap between existing substances such as ceramics, metals, polymers, optical and electroptical materials, and semiconductors—and polyphosphazenes provide a valuable tool in that effort. With so many polymers, potential applications include: aerospace and automotive uses, biomedical applications, imaging technology, optical switches, and ultraviolet-resistant surfaces.

A single investigator or research group cannot study all those things. So, Allcock believes research groups should conduct highly specialized work on their own and collaborate only when they need to move beyond the boundaries of their expertise. He values his collaborations at Penn State and elsewhere because of their impact on his science and his students. He ranks training student researchers as his primary responsibility and believes the exposure of students to practical research has helped the growth and impact of materials science. Allcock’s own career choice has had an influence on materials science as well. With a keen interest in all aspects of science since high school, he decided on chemistry in college.

“I slowly came to realize that nearly all of science revolved around chemistry,” Allcock says. “While I was interested in many aspects of science, chemistry seemed to be a central platform from which one could make contributions to all areas.”

During 35 years at Penn State, building a career as an accomplished and respected scientist here and around the world, he has done just that.

-- By Steve Sampsell

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