Prof. Hermann Staudinger (1881-1965)

Hermann Staudinger was professor for general chemistry at ETH Zurich from 1912 to 1926. In 1953 he won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his pioneering work in what is today known as polymer chemistry.

By 1920, chemists (but also physicists and biologists) still commonly held the belief that there was a physical limit for molecular mass, which was surprisingly low from today's perspective. The mystery of the "too high" molecular weights was explained by the theory of the colloidal state - a kind of fourth form of matter, in addition to gas, solid and liquid. It concluded that matter could also exist as large aggregates (collections) of small molecules, as "colloids". This interpretation was strengthened by further observations over time, resulting in the predominant opinion that “secondary valence forces” between the small molecules would hold the aggregates together. Those who didn't share this opinion were ridiculed as ignorant. In a letter written by the Nobel Prize laureate of 1927, Heinrich Wieland, the following can be read: "Dear colleague, give up the idea of large molecules; organic molecules with a molecular weight above 5000 do not exist!"

What would it take for a new view to prevail? Hermann Staudinger, a highly qualified, bull-necked fighter unwaveringly convinced by the idea of very large molecules. Coming from the Technical University of Karlsruhe, he was appointed Professor of general chemistry (inorganic and organic chemistry) and head of the analytical laboratory at ETH Zurich in 1912. He found the idea of secondary valence forces abhorrent and began a series of detailed studies of high molecular weight substances; in particular, rubber, polystyrene (metastyrene) and polyoxymethylene (paraformaldehyde). In 1919, he declared his convictions for the first time in a lecture, asserting that polymers are "high molecular weight" substances, in whose molecules many atoms are chained together by strong bonding. In 1920, his paper About polymerization became a key publication of the field. He also applied the now common chemical structural formula in chain form - this alone was a snub to the entire scientific community. At this time his views were still theories, but in 1922 he delivered the first truly convincing experimental evidence - along with his collaborator Jacob Fritschi - in a paper on rubber and its hydrogenated derivative (a saturated hydrocarbon). Previously, the "colloidal" properties of the rubber were attributed to the many unsaturated double bonds in its molecular structure - now the hydrogenated rubber, which no longer contains such double bonds, behaves in the same manner as rubber. Staudinger and Fritschi also explained why such substances could not be composed of only one type (or length) of molecules.

Resistance among the ranks of the established sciences was enormous. The reports on his lectures - at that time, the lecture manuscripts, including the minutes of the subsequent discussion, were still published - point out the vehemence with which the discourse was held by both sides ("... does the professor not know that..."). In 1926 Staudinger also coined the term "macromolecule", which was perceived by most members of the research community as a slap in the face, as an insult. It took a firm and unbending person to survive the impact of "scientific expertise". One must assume that Staudinger led a hard life in Zurich.

After 14 years at ETH Zurich, Herrmann Staudinger moved to the University of Freiburg in 1926, where he received the opportunity to set up a great institution. In the following years, he steadfastly championed the molecular position that macromolecules with unlimited size existed. His research group systematically produced new polymer classes and over the coming years chemists, physicists and material scientists, and even biologists sided with him more and more - even if the personal relations with him were not always easy. Staudinger was clearly a man of strong character and firm opinions.

In the beginning of the 1930s, the fight for macromolecules was essentially won. Only a few disciplines of science (e.g. biology) continued to hold fast to the colloid theory. Shortly after 1940, even those disciplines that had remained sceptical until the very end eventually adopted Staudinger's point of view. In 1953 he was finally awarded the Nobel Prize for his achievements in the area of macromolecular chemistry.

Prof. Ulrich W. Suter, professor emeritus at the Department of Materials

Extract of the publication "Zurich meets New York", 2014