Hermann Josef Schnell

Hermann Schnell ( 16. September March 1916 – 7 September 1999) was a German organic chemist who developed the first commercial polycarbonate, Makrolon. Hermann Schnell studied chemistry at the University of Freiberg. His supervisor was Hermann Staudinger a well-known polymer chemist.

Hermann Schnell
Born	(1916-09-16)16 September 1916 Gaienhofen, Germany
Died	8 September 1999(1999-09-08) (aged 83) Gaienhofen, Germany
Alma mater	University of Freiburg
Known for	Polycarbonates
Awards	Hermann-Staudinger-Gedächtnismedaille (1970), Swinburne Award 1976
Scientific career
Fields	Polymer chemistry
Institutions	Bayer AG
Doctoral advisor	Hermann Staudinger

After his phd he worked in the research laboratory of the Bayer AG in Uerdingen, starting in 1946. In 1953 he developed the synthesis of polycarbonates by reacting phosgene with bisphenol A. This material marketed as Makrolon was a commercial success.

References

• Wolfgang Göbel (2007). "Schnell, Hermann". Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German). Vol. 23. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot. pp. 315–316. (full text online).