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(1 - 2 of 2)
- Title
- Interview with Don Sturgeon, 2019 January 24
- Date(s)
- 2019-01-24
- Contributor(s)
- Sturgeon, Don (interviewee), Plasky, Joseph G. (interviewer)
- Description
-
In his interview, Don Sturgeon gives a comprehensive account of his involvement with Kevlar applications at DuPont. He first describes his early life in Argentina. He then details the interview process he went through to get a position at DuPont. He describes in detail his first assignment at the PRL (Pioneering Research Laboratory), providing a snapshot of how DuPont managed technology in the late 1960s. He describes the application of Kelvar to both the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar airplane and...
Show moreIn his interview, Don Sturgeon gives a comprehensive account of his involvement with Kevlar applications at DuPont. He first describes his early life in Argentina. He then details the interview process he went through to get a position at DuPont. He describes in detail his first assignment at the PRL (Pioneering Research Laboratory), providing a snapshot of how DuPont managed technology in the late 1960s. He describes the application of Kelvar to both the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar airplane and to non-rubber reinforcement uses. He comments at length on the competition of Kevlar with Fiberglass and steel. He recalls the transition of Kevlar to venture status and the birth of Kevlar Special Products as initially a lesser contributor to venture economics that relied more heavily on tires and mechanical rubber goods.
He then describes his time (1976-1980) in the technical section of the DuPont Seaford plant, focusing on personnel management and frustrations. From his perspective, the first line technical personnel felt they had much responsibility but little authority and support from management. He describes the unsuccessful attempt by Human Relations staff to improve morale of the technical section of the Seaford plant. Concerning his time at Seaford, Sturgeon also details his attempt to bring a staple process CPU (Continuous Production Unit) online and his role in developing new carpet products for DuPont's commercial and residential carpet shows.
Sturgeon then discusses his return to Wilmington in Kevlar special products, which grew to include such applications as missiles, aircraft, armor, helmets, aero-engines, personnel protection, and optical cables. Many of the special products Sturgeon and his group developed were for specific niche applications but required large engineering and management efforts to design, test, and qualify. Sturgeon comments on the massive effort required to develop Kevlar in the marketplace and recalls DuPont's strategic efforts at forward integration, moving from being a materials supplier to a manufacturer of parts and sub-components. He also comments on high-density polypropylene, a competitor of Kevlar. In this discussion of Kevlar, Sturgeon remarks on the difficulties encountered in obtaining export licenses for Kevlar products to Asia and South America.
Sturgeon also describes his leadership of an Advanced Composite Systems products group, which was part of DuPont's efforts at forward integration. The multi-specialty group was formed to integrate DuPont product and processes and add any technology to make composite products using DuPont specialty fibers and resins. According to Sturgeon, however, management ultimately did not support the group due to the high labor costs and small market inherent in the products they were developing. Sturgeon remarks that the similar European composites group also did not succeed. He notes that reduced military spending after the end of the Cold War further contributed to the failure of the groups at DuPont, as the military had been a major customer for advanced composites products.
Show less - Collection ID
- Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department (Accession 2010.215)
- Hagley ID
- 2010215_20190124_Sturgeon
- Collection
- Oral history interviews with former employees of DuPont Company's Textile Fibers Department
- Title
- Interview with Don Sturgeon, 2014 July 30
- Date(s)
- 2014-07-30
- Contributor(s)
- Sturgeon, Don (interviewee), Smith, John K. (John Kenly), 1951- (interviewer), Oates, Mike (videographer), 302 Stories, Inc. (production company), Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation (originator)
- Description
-
Donald Sturgeon details his work at DuPont evaluating the properties of Kevlar fibers, particularly for their utility in composite structures. He recounts that while the fiber was incredibly strong in tension, it had relatively poor performance in compression. The peculiar features of Kevlar fibers required that Kevlar reinforced products had to be carefully engineered. Initially, DuPont hoped that Kevlar would find a large market as tire cord. When tire manufacturers opted for steel belts in...
Show moreDonald Sturgeon details his work at DuPont evaluating the properties of Kevlar fibers, particularly for their utility in composite structures. He recounts that while the fiber was incredibly strong in tension, it had relatively poor performance in compression. The peculiar features of Kevlar fibers required that Kevlar reinforced products had to be carefully engineered. Initially, DuPont hoped that Kevlar would find a large market as tire cord. When tire manufacturers opted for steel belts in radial tires, DuPont had to find other markets for Kevlar.
Sturgeon further describes his work in developing novel applications for Kevlar. Because Kevlar was difficult to make and process, DuPont had invested an unprecedented $500 million by the mid-1970s. Instead of one large market, DuPont had to develop many smaller applications for Kevlar. Sturgeon worked on developing and promoting weight-saving Kevlar composite materials to the aircraft industry. He was also involved in developing bullet-proof vests and non-cut fabrics. Through these extensive product development and marketing efforts, Kevlar eventually became a profitable product.
Show less - Collection ID
- History of Kevlar oral history interviews (Accession 2014.249)
- Hagley ID
- 2014249_20140730_Sturgeon
- Collection
- History of Kevlar oral history interviews