University of Rochester Department of Chemical Engineering Rubber Reserve Research project

For some time Trustees, Administration, and Faculty of the University have been interested in the growing opportunities for a closer working relationship with industry in matters of research. In January 1943 the Trustees established the Office of Coordinated Research. The Director was charged with studying the field and recommending a policy under which the University could develop research undertakings of mutual interest and benefit to industry and the University.

In 1946 the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Office of the Rubber Reserve proposed a six month research project to the University's Department of Chemical Engineering. A budget was devised by Dr. Orrington Dwyer, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Monomer Recovery Project was approved and began in March of 1946. Princeton University had completed a project of the recovery of the standard monomers, butadiene and styrene. This new project at the University of Rochester was to further investigate and expand testing on these monomers.