Robert Wesley Layer (August 11, 1928-December 3, 2022) was a B. F. Goodrich chemist noted for contributions to chemistry of

imines In organic chemistry, an imine ( or ) is a functional group or organic compound containing a carbon–nitrogen double bond (). The nitrogen atom can be attached to a hydrogen or an organic group (R). The carbon atom has two additional single bo ...

and for chemical stabilization of elastomers.

Early life and education

Layer was born in 1928 in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

. He earned a BA in chemistry at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

, and in 1955 a doctorate in chemistry from the

University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati, informally Cincy) is a public university, public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1819 and had an enrollment of over 53,000 students in 2024, making it the ...

Career

Layer worked for 39 years as a research chemist at the B.F. Goodrich Company in Brecksville. He originated several patents on the chemical stabilization of elastomers. He collaborated with Robert Lattimer on rubber additives for protecting against ozone attack.

Awards and recognitions

* 1992 - Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award from the

ACS Rubber Division ACS or Acs may refer to: Aviation * ACS-3, the military version of Raybird-3, a Ukrainian UAV * Aerial Common Sensor, a Lockheed Martin reconnaissance aircraft airframe for the US Army and Navy * Air Cess, a cargo airline based in Sharjah, Uni ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Layer, Robert Wesley 1928 births 2022 deaths American polymer scientists and engineers 20th-century American engineers