John Twiss Blake (c. 1901-June 26, 1987) was a research scientist at the Simplex Wire and Cable company. in Boston, Massachusetts who, along with Charles R. Boggs, found that proteins present in

natural rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Thailand, Malaysia, and ...

were responsible for

water absorption The absorption of electromagnetic radiation by water depends on the state of the water. The absorption in the gas phase occurs in three regions of the spectrum. Rotational transitions are responsible for absorption in the microwave and far-in ...

. Blake and Boggs showed that the proteins could be isolated by repeated centrifugal action on liquid

latex Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latexes are found in nature, but synthetic latexes are common as well. In nature, latex is found as a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants (angiosperms ...

. In 1926 Simplex applied for a patent on the deproteinized rubber. This became the basis for a new product family of lightweight, moisture-proof Anhydrex-insulated power and communication cables. He made significant contributions to understanding various degradation mechanisms of rubber, including the effects of water absorption, exposure to light, ozone, and microbes. Blake was born and educated in Boston. He graduated from Tufts College with honors in 1921 with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1924 with a doctorate in organic chemistry and chemical engineering. His doctoral advisor was James F. Norris, and the title of his thesis was ''Rates of reaction of certain organic chlorine compounds''. After obtaining his doctoral degree, he worked at Simplex Wire and Cable Co., starting as a research chemist and eventually serving as senior vice president. Blake was an organizer and chairman of the Boston Rubber Group. In 1953, Blake received the

Charles Goodyear Medal The Charles Goodyear Medal is the highest honor conferred by the American Chemical Society, Rubber Division. Established in 1941, the award is named after Charles Goodyear, the discoverer of vulcanization, and consists of a gold medal, a framed ...

. Blake later received an honorary doctor of science degree from Tufts University in 1956, and a degree in advanced management. He died on 26 June 1987 at age 86 in Hyannis, Massachusetts after a brief illness.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, John T. Polymer scientists and engineers Tufts University School of Engineering alumni Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Submarine cables 1900s births 1987 deaths