Background
Banks, Robert Louis was born on November 24, 1921 in Piedmont, Missouri, United States. Son of James Arthur and Maude Lelia (McAllister) Banks.
Banks, Robert Louis was born on November 24, 1921 in Piedmont, Missouri, United States. Son of James Arthur and Maude Lelia (McAllister) Banks.
Student, S.E. Missouri State College, 1940-1942; Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, U. Missouri, Rolla, 1944; Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (honorary), University Missouri, Rolla, 1976; D. Engineering (honorary), University Missouri, Rolla, 1988; Master of Science, Oklahoma State University, 1953.
He joined the Phillips Petroleum company in 1946 and worked there until he retired in 1985. He died in Missouri on January 3, 1989. He was a fellow research chemist of Jean Paul Hogan.
They began working together in 1946, and in 1951 invented "crystalline polypropylene" and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
These plastics were initially known by the name Marlex. The polymerization of ethylene was made possible by their discovery of the so-called Phillips catalyst.
Both were given a Heroes of Chemistry award by the American Chemical Society in 1989.
Member American Chemical Society (award in petroleum chemistry 1979, member of advisory bd.for petroleum research fund 1981-1986), N. American Catalysis Society.
Married Mildred Kathleen Lambeth, August 30, 1947. Children: Susan Lee, Mary Kathleen, Melissa Annual.
