학술논문
Dr Barbara S. Neumann; clay scientist and industrial pioneer; creator of Laponite
Document Type
Academic Journal
Source
Clay Minerals. 55(3):256-260
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0009-8558
Abstract
In 2019, BYK Additives (Widnes, UK; www.byk.com) marked the 55th anniversary of the discovery by Dr Barbara Zsusanna (Susanna) Neumann of the extraordinary product known as LaponiteR. The range of LaponiteR products developed in the UK during the early 1960s is one of the first examples of truly nanodimensional materials manufactured on an industrial scale, at a time when the field of nanotechnology was only being hinted at (Feynman, 1959). These hectorite-like synthetic nanoclays with very unusual properties have been an enduring commercial success for the UK company that first patented and introduced them to the market, Laporte Industries, which is now a part of the BYK company. The LaponiteR brand has proved tremendously popular with academic and industrial scientists worldwide, being cited in >3000 patents and >2500 published academic articles.