Shingo Futamura (April 3, 1938 -) [1] is a rubber industry materials scientist noted for his concept of the deformation index. [2]
Futamura completed his undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree at Waseda University in Japan. He earned a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1968. [3] He received his doctorate in polymer science from the University of Akron in 1975 under advisor Eberhard Meinecke. [4]
By 1974, Futamura was appointed as a group leader of polymer physics at Firestone Central Research in Akron, Ohio. [5] During a career spanning over 40 years, Futamura authored 25 scientific papers and 50 US patents. He worked for Nippon Zeon Co., Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
He is best known for proposing the concept of a deformation index to relate viscoelastic properties to real-world tire performance. The concept is used to select rubber compounds that minimize tire rolling resistance, and it is used in finite element analysis to simplify the calculation of energy loss and temperature distribution. [6]
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to tires:
Alan Neville Gent was a professor at the University of Akron. He was recognized during his lifetime as a world-leading authority on the topics of adhesion physics, crystalline and glassy polymers, and the fracturing of rubber.
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 certificate and prize money. The medal honors individuals for "outstanding invention, innovation, or development which has resulted in a significant change or contribution to the nature of the rubber industry". Awardees give a lecture at an ACS Rubber Division meeting, and publish a review of their work in the society's scientific journal Rubber Chemistry and Technology.
The Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award is a professional award conferred by the ACS Rubber Division. Established in 1983, the award is named after Melvin Mooney, developer of the Mooney viscometer and of the Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic law. The award consists of an engraved plaque and prize money. The medal honors individuals "who have exhibited exceptional technical competency by making significant and repeated contributions to rubber science and technology".
Rubber Chemistry and Technology is a quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering fundamental research and technical developments relating to chemistry, materials science, and engineering of rubber, elastomers, and related materials. It was established in 1928, with Carroll C. Davis as its first editor-in-chief. The current editor-in-chief is Christopher G. Robertson. The journal is published by the ACS Rubber Division. The journal currently publishes four issues per year containing original research contributions and review articles.
James Daniel D'Ianni (1914–2007) was a scientist at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company noted for his contributions to the development of synthetic rubber.
Maurice Morton was a polymer author, educator, and researcher. He was the first director of the University of Akron's Institute of Rubber Research, which in 1993 was renamed the Maurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science.
Russell A. Livigni is a rubber industry scientist and executive noted for his discovery and development of high trans styrene-butadiene rubber, a crystallizing rubber that provides superior oxidation resistance relative to natural rubber.
Adel F. Halasa is an American scientist noted for his contributions to the development of rubber, particularly in the area of tire tread polymers for the Goodyear AquaTred tire. In 1997, he won the Charles Goodyear Medal, bestowed by the American Chemical Society, Rubber Division to individuals who "have been the principal inventor(s), innovator(s), or developer(s) of a significant change or contribution to the rubber industry".
The purpose of the Sparks–Thomas Award, given by the ACS Rubber Division, is to recognize and encourage outstanding contributions and innovations in the field of elastomers by younger scientists, technologists, and engineers. The award is named for Exxon scientists William J. Sparks and Robert M. Thomas, co-inventors of Butyl rubber.
The deformation index is a parameter that specifies the mode of control under which time-varying deformation or loading processes occur in a solid. It is useful for evaluating the interaction of elastic stiffness with viscoelastic or fatigue behavior.
James Roger Beatty was a B. F. Goodrich Senior Research Fellow and the first recipient of the Melvin Mooney Distinguished Technology Award.
Walter H. Waddell is a retired ExxonMobil Chemical senior research associate and consultant to the tire and rubber industry with expertise in silica technology, rubber compounding, butyl polymer applications and tire aging. Since 2015 he has served on the technical committee of the International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC) for Tire Manufacturing.
Avraam I. Isayev is a University of Akron professor of polymer engineering known for widely used texts on rheology and polymer molding technology, as well as for development of technology for ultrasonic devulcanization of tire rubber.
Joseph Padovan is a retired University of Akron Distinguished Professor known for pioneering finite element procedures for analysis of rolling tires.
Frederick Ignatz-Hoover is an Eastman technology fellow and the ninth editor of Rubber Chemistry and Technology.
Maria D. Ellul is a retired ExxonMobil materials scientist known for her contributions to and development of commercial polyolefin and polyamide specialty thermoplastic elastomers, and recognized as one of the first prominent women scientists in the rubber industry.
Anke Blume is an engineering technology professor at the University of Twente known for her contributions to silica and silane chemistry for rubber applications.
Joseph D. Walter is a retired American tire industry mechanical engineering researcher and former Bridgestone executive.