Lorin B. Sebrell

Lorin Beryl Sebrell (19 November 1894 – 5 August 1984) was a scientist at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. noted for isolating mercaptobenzothiazole, among the first vulcanization accelerators. In 1942, Sebrell received the Charles Goodyear Medal.^[1]

Biography

Sebrell was born on 19 November 1894 in Alliance, Ohio. In 1918, he married Ruth Ellen Tullis.^[1]

Dr. Sebrell received his B.S. in chemistry from Mount Union College. After completing his M.S., he served in the Chemical Warfare Service during World War I.^[2] He obtained his Ph.D. in 1922 from Ohio State University after starting work at Goodyear in 1919.^[3]

In 1920 Sebrell isolated mercaptobenzothiazole, a rubber vulcanization accelerator, and he devised ways of making it commercially pure. The new accelerator was named Cap tax. Cap-tax proved was vital in achieving durable truck-tire compounds, and was placed on the market in 1926.

While at Goodyear, Sebrell held positions including Head of Organic Chemistry section, and Manager of Research in 1928.

In 1933, Sebrell served as Chairman of the Rubber Division, ACS.

During World War II, Sebrell worked on bullet-sealing fuel tanks.

In 1949, left Goodyear to take a job as Director of research and development at International Latex Corporation. He retired from this position in 1959.

Sebrell died in Dover, Delaware on 5 August 1984 at the age of 89.^[1]

References