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FrancisCowlesFrary AUBREY D. M cFADYEN
JL HB breadth of t h e scientific work of Francis C. Frary is best appraised in the 49 titles cited t o t h e Perkin Medal com mittee as basis for awarding that coveted medal to him (1946). These titles cover his work as a teacher and his contributions in analytical chemistry and in electro chemistry while on t h e staff of the Univer sity of Minnesota; his outstanding work as director of research for the Aluminum Co. of America in building that organiza tion to a position of international promi nence; the accomplishments of the Alcoa research organization under his direction, together with his personal advancement in such phases of the aluminum art as elec trolytic refining of aluminum, electrother mal production of aluminum and alumina, and calcination of coke for electrodes re flected in some threescore United States patents; his generous contributions to the technical litera ture on such varied subjects as "Aluminum and Its Alloys/ ' "Electrolytic Refining of Pure Aluminum,' ' ' 'Aluminum Chemical Equip ment/ ' and his part as coauthor of the monu m e n t a l work "The Aluminum Industry," as well as his writings designed to encourage and assist wayfarers i n the field of sci ence to more worthy attainment, such as "Research as a Vocation/ ' "Logical Divi sion of a Research Organization/' and others. Included i n his youthful studies were such papers a s "Rapid Analysis by Electrolysis without Rotating Elec trodes," and "Use of a Mercury Cathode in the Determination of Metals." Aluminum and Alumina Of the many achievements with which Frary has been closely associated during his aluminum career, the production for the first time of pure aluminum (99.8% plus) by electrolytic refining and the pro duction of pure alumina by" electrothermal processes are regarded as notable advances V O L U M E
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in the art. Scientifically, this highpurity metal permitted the physical chem ist and the metallurgist for the first time to determine a variety of physical proper ties of pure aluminum and various alu minum alloys and to work out new equilib rium diagrams for t h e alloy systems. Practically, the possession of metal of this purity made it possible to determine the properties of aluminum alloys without con taminating iron and silicon. Armed with such precise information, Frary and his staff have gone on to produce forgeable alloys of increased strength and hardness. To meet the demands of the last war, one new alloy was developed by Alcoa having 50% greater yield strength than was avail able in any alloy in use at the beginning of the war. All new designs of airplanes were based on its use. Early
Successes
Frary's interest in metallurgy was kindled as a boy when he copperplated the kitchen door key with the aid of a battery of his own devising. F o r this he invested a hard earned nickel a t the drug store for some blue vitriol, and made a cell from a piece of zinc salvaged from an old wash board, a bit of copper, and a solution of common salt. This venture in electro chemistry did more than plate a key. More important, the thrill of discovery un leashed the curiosity of the lad and stimu lated his bent for research. Though born in Minneapolis, Frary conies of New England Puritan stock. He grew up in Spartan simplicity in a happy home which held high standards of culture and discipline. His mother was one of the early graduates of Holyoke College, and with understanding she allowed the use of the kitchen or woodshed of their home for the boy's hobby. Following the key epi sode, photography gripped his curio**'* mind and crystallized his intent to mi chemistry his life work. Following his preliminary education in Minneapolis, Frary entered the University of Minnesota and was graduated in 1905 with a B.S. degree in analytical chemistry. He received his master of science degree the following year. After a year at the University of Berlin, he returned to the University of Minnesota. Both sides of
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his family tree contain an unusual number of teachers, and Frary followed the family pattern at Minnesota while continuing his research work leading to the doctorate which was conferred upon him in 1912. Among Frary's accomplishments a t Minnesota was the development of a safe method of producing phosphorus sesquisulfide, as well as new, precise methods o f determining heavy metals. Working with Sterling Temple, Frary discovered a, series of new lead bearing alloys hardened with. calcium and barium. Known as Frary metal, these alloys .were extensively used* particularly shortly after World War I It was natural that industry should be im pressed and bid for his services. I t was the Oldbury Electro chemical Co. of Niagara Falls that enticed him to forsake the classroom for L ^„^~ _ industry. With this company l i e h a d marked success in applying his knowl edge to. electro chemical products, and h e became an authority on the produc tion of the deadly phosgene, soon to b e in great demand for use in chemical war fare. In 1915, Frary accepted t h e posi tion of director of research of Alu.minu.rja Co. of America. Thefirstworld war, how ever, was in progress and at trie request of the Government Frary was assigned by t h e Army to help design and build a pîiosgene plant. I t was not until December 1918 that Major Frary was free to undertake h i s new duties with Alcoa. Francis Frary presents a striking personality. During his college days h e was a member of the group that won the national intercollegiate "strong men's squad7 y championship in 1903. Though possessed of an unusually .capacious and accurate memory, he manifests none of t h e impatience often encountered in men of similar gift toward those less fortunately endowed. To the contrary, Frary frequently draws upon his ready sense of humor to relieve embarrassment to anyone. I n all his a c tivities he is still the true teacher—stimulating and inspiring his associates, freely sharing his knowledge with them. He i s an active churchman and teaches a group of men in Sunday School. Besides the Perkin Medal, Frary r e ceived the Pittsburgh Award for 1937 from the Pittsburgh Section of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, and in 1939 tb.e Elec-
trochemical Society gave him the Edward Goodrich Acheson Gold Medal a n d prize for distinguished contributions to the s c i ence of electrochemistry. The cash. grant. of the Acheson Award was donated b y Frary to a revolving loan fund for assisting employees of the Alcoa laboratory to a d vance their education. 2493
