Comments on: Woman Scientist’s Process Makes Glass Invisible (Apr, 1939) http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:44:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Eyeglasses http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1074461 Eyeglasses Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:44:06 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1074461 This one woman did so much for the women's lib movement! She also revolutionized the glass industry! This one woman did so much for the women’s lib movement! She also revolutionized the glass industry!

]]> By: blokeice http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1074425 blokeice Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:15:36 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1074425 if what they are saying in this article is true and the process truly does cancel out light making it so that none is reflected, it would be equivalent to just having it absorb light, inotherwords, they just invented black paint on glass. for something to be invisible, it would not cancel out light but let light go through it (like say a normal piece of glass) or bend light around it. if what they are saying in this article is true and the process truly does cancel out light making it so that none is reflected, it would be equivalent to just having it absorb light, inotherwords, they just invented black paint on glass. for something to be invisible, it would not cancel out light but let light go through it (like say a normal piece of glass) or bend light around it.

]]> By: John Savard http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072322 John Savard Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:39:36 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072322 And I found out that A. H. Pfund was an American, who was for a time a professor at Johns Hopkins, so his 1933 work did not disappear the way that Smakula's did. So he seems to be the inventor of the modern optical coating - even though some sources note that work was done on antireflection coatings even during the first World War. And I found out that A. H. Pfund was an American, who was for a time a professor at Johns Hopkins, so his 1933 work did not disappear the way that Smakula’s did. So he seems to be the inventor of the modern optical coating – even though some sources note that work was done on antireflection coatings even during the first World War.

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072320 Firebrand38 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:24:07 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072320 John Savard: Good job! Thanks for staying with this. John Savard: Good job! Thanks for staying with this.

]]> By: John Savard http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072319 John Savard Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:02:52 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072319 Further searching shows that although the Germans tried to keep it a secret, a paper by John Strong in the January, 1936 issue of the Journal of the Optical Society of America described how to coat lenses with a quarter-wave coating of calcium fluoride, so, given that Smakula's work was kept secret, this, rather than Dr. Katherine Blodgett's work, would be the starting point from which coated lenses derived prior to the Second World War. Further searching shows that although the Germans tried to keep it a secret, a paper by John Strong in the January, 1936 issue of the Journal of the Optical Society of America described how to coat lenses with a quarter-wave coating of calcium fluoride, so, given that Smakula’s work was kept secret, this, rather than Dr. Katherine Blodgett’s work, would be the starting point from which coated lenses derived prior to the Second World War.

]]> By: John Savard http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072318 John Savard Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:41:39 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072318 I have been hunting for more information on this. It was in 1904 that Harold Dennis Taylor attempted to use an acid treatment unsuccessfully to reproduce the effect of lens tarnish discovered by Rayleigh - or Fraunhofer. In 1933, a Zinc Sulfide coating for antireflection purposes was invented by A. H. Pfund. Perhaps this was the first successful artificial antireflection coating. While the magnesium fluoride coating discovered by Smakula in 1935 was kept secret by the Nazis until 1940, in December 1939 coated lenses were used on movie projectors showing the movie "Gone With the Wind". And during the war, the process of baking coated lenses to make the coatings harder was developed by D. A. Lyon in the United States. I have been hunting for more information on this. It was in 1904 that Harold Dennis Taylor attempted to use an acid treatment unsuccessfully to reproduce the effect of lens tarnish discovered by Rayleigh – or Fraunhofer.

In 1933, a Zinc Sulfide coating for antireflection purposes was invented by A. H. Pfund. Perhaps this was the first successful artificial antireflection coating.

While the magnesium fluoride coating discovered by Smakula in 1935 was kept secret by the Nazis until 1940, in December 1939 coated lenses were used on movie projectors showing the movie “Gone With the Wind”.

And during the war, the process of baking coated lenses to make the coatings harder was developed by D. A. Lyon in the United States.

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072241 Firebrand38 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:57:49 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072241 William Deering: No that's your condition. I would have to call you a <em><strong>punpetophile</strong></em> to make the list. What got me thinking about this was years ago I was watching the comedy movie "Airplane!" with a friend. The opening credits had started and he started laughing even though nothing had happened. It seems that he knew Robert Stack was in this movie and when he saw the name of the star of the movie (Robert Hays) he thought that Robert "Hays" was a pun for Robert "Stack". Hays....Stack. Definitely a punpetophile as well. Hey, folks like you can't help it. Just like others see Jesus in a tortilla...... William Deering: No that’s your condition. I would have to call you a punpetophile to make the list.

What got me thinking about this was years ago I was watching the comedy movie “Airplane!” with a friend.

The opening credits had started and he started laughing even though nothing had happened. It seems that he knew Robert Stack was in this movie and when he saw the name of the star of the movie (Robert Hays) he thought that Robert “Hays” was a pun for Robert “Stack”. Hays….Stack. Definitely a punpetophile as well.

Hey, folks like you can’t help it. Just like others see Jesus in a tortilla……

]]> By: William Deering http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072240 William Deering Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:19:18 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072240 Firebrand38: I've added "punpetophilia" to my "Names I've Been Called" list. I can see clearly now. Thanks! Firebrand38: I’ve added “punpetophilia” to my “Names I’ve Been Called” list. I can see clearly now. Thanks!

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072216 Firebrand38 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:33:17 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072216 There really should be a medical term for people who see puns that aren't there. In Latin it would be <strong>punpetophilia</strong> (and that's with a <em>t</em> not a <em>d</em>!) There really should be a medical term for people who see puns that aren’t there.

In Latin it would be punpetophilia (and that’s with a t not a d!)

]]> By: William Deering http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072215 William Deering Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:12:05 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072215 Charlene, I get the humorous pun in your comment #1. The responses you got just increased the possible point! Am I off base? Charlene, I get the humorous pun in your comment #1. The responses you got just increased the possible point! Am I off base?

]]> By: Jari http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072200 Jari Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:06:29 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072200 Firebrand is correct. There's a Professor Smakula's biography for those interested: http://www.wumag.kiev.ua/index2.php?param=pgs20083/92 And a brief mention of him in Zeiss's Tessar lenses history: http://www.zeiss.de/C125716F004E0776/0/3E640231096E4B6AC125717500672495/$File/Innovation_11_32.pdf Firebrand is correct. There’s a Professor Smakula’s biography for those interested:

http://www.wumag.kiev.ua/index.....gs20083/92

And a brief mention of him in Zeiss’s Tessar lenses history:

http://www.zeiss.de/C125716F00....._11_32.pdf

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072199 Firebrand38 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:26:35 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072199 Casandro: Your professor is full of it. The physicist's name was Alexander Smakula and he invented the first practical process to apply anti-reflective coatings. http://sites.google.com/site/ldtomei2/lenses,coatings,conceptionsandmisconcept and here: www.shutterspeed.dk/pdf/Anti-reflection_Coating.pdf Casandro: Your professor is full of it. The physicist’s name was Alexander Smakula and he invented the first practical process to apply anti-reflective coatings.

http://sites.google.com/site/l.....misconcept

and here:

http://www.shutterspeed.dk/pdf.....oating.pdf

]]> By: Stephen http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072198 Stephen Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:22:02 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072198 Also the co-discoverer of Langmuir-Blodgett films: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langmuir%E2%80%93Blodgett_film Also the co-discoverer of Langmuir-Blodgett films:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.....dgett_film

]]> By: Casandro http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072194 Casandro Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:25:29 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072194 Actually according to my professor anti reflection coating was invented by Zeiss when they found out that one employee was linked to making considerably better optics. They analyzed the problem and found out that he was using a cream on his hands which got transfered onto the lenses and by polishing got down to about a quarter wavelength thus eliminating reflections. Actually according to my professor anti reflection coating was invented by Zeiss when they found out that one employee was linked to making considerably better optics. They analyzed the problem and found out that he was using a cream on his hands which got transfered onto the lenses and by polishing got down to about a quarter wavelength thus eliminating reflections.

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072187 Firebrand38 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:09:41 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072187 Absolutely an incredible person by any standard 1939 Honorary Doctorate from Elmira College 1942 Honorary Doctorate from Brown University 1942 Honorary Doctorate from Western College 1943 Starred in American Men of Science 1943 edition 1944 Honorary Doctorate from Russell Sage College 1945 American Association of University Women's Annual Achievement Award 1951 Francis Garvin Medal, American Chemical Society for work on monomolecular films 1951 Only scientist honored in Boston's First Assembly of American Women in Achievement 1951 Chosen by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of the 15 "women of achievement" 1951 Schenectady honor of Katharine Blodgett Day 1972 Progress Medal of the Photographic Society of America http://www.engineergirl.org/savikhin/invention.htm#awards In addition to the film: http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=EGNkAAAAEBAJ&dq=2220860 She also did work that helped our troops in WW2 http://www.engineergirl.org/savikhin/impact.htm Absolutely an incredible person by any standard
1939 Honorary Doctorate from Elmira College
1942 Honorary Doctorate from Brown University
1942 Honorary Doctorate from Western College
1943 Starred in American Men of Science 1943 edition
1944 Honorary Doctorate from Russell Sage College
1945 American Association of University Women’s Annual Achievement Award
1951 Francis Garvin Medal, American Chemical Society for work on monomolecular films
1951 Only scientist honored in Boston’s First Assembly of American Women in Achievement
1951 Chosen by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of the 15 “women of achievement”
1951 Schenectady honor of Katharine Blodgett Day
1972 Progress Medal of the Photographic Society of America
http://www.engineergirl.org/sa.....htm#awards

In addition to the film:
http://www.google.com/patents/.....dq=2220860

She also did work that helped our troops in WW2

http://www.engineergirl.org/savikhin/impact.htm

]]> By: John Savard http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072186 John Savard Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:44:46 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072186 Following a link in the Wikipedia article, it turns out that while Lord Rayleigh discovered the principle, and noted that some forms of glass tarnish so as to produce an antireflection coating naturally, one can indeed credit Dr. Katharine Blodgett as the inventor of artificially applied antireflection coatings. The kind we use now, with substances like magnesium fluoride, was invented earlier - in 1935, by one Alexander Smakula - but that invention was not publicly disclosed at the time. Instead, it was kept a secret until coated optics used by German forces in World War II were captured by the Allies, and the war started several months after this magazine was published. Following a link in the Wikipedia article, it turns out that while Lord Rayleigh discovered the principle, and noted that some forms of glass tarnish so as to produce an antireflection coating naturally, one can indeed credit Dr. Katharine Blodgett as the inventor of artificially applied antireflection coatings. The kind we use now, with substances like magnesium fluoride, was invented earlier – in 1935, by one Alexander Smakula – but that invention was not publicly disclosed at the time. Instead, it was kept a secret until coated optics used by German forces in World War II were captured by the Allies, and the war started several months after this magazine was published.

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072184 Firebrand38 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072184 mc: Not really, her work was in organic coatings. Most cameras use inorganic or metallic coatings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_coating mc: Not really, her work was in organic coatings. Most cameras use inorganic or metallic coatings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_coating

]]> By: mc http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072182 mc Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:42:08 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072182 Antireflection coating is what made all modern camera lenses possible. You almost certainly have numerous optical gadgets in your house with this kind of coating on them. It's an important invention. Antireflection coating is what made all modern camera lenses possible. You almost certainly have numerous optical gadgets in your house with this kind of coating on them. It’s an important invention.

]]> By: Firebrand38 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072181 Firebrand38 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:15:40 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072181 Charlene: Not at all. It's just very good at transmitting light. Polarization blocks light depending on its orientation. www.ksvltd.fi/Literature/Application%20notes/LB.pdf http://www.google.com/patents?vid=2220862 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizer Charlene: Not at all. It’s just very good at transmitting light. Polarization blocks light depending on its orientation.
http://www.ksvltd.fi/Literatur.....tes/LB.pdf
http://www.google.com/patents?vid=2220862
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizer

]]> By: Charlene http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/10/29/woman-scientists-process-makes-glass-invisible/comment-page-1/#comment-1072180 Charlene Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:44:58 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=8388#comment-1072180 Has this something to do with polarization? Also, it could be worse: they could have written "Lady Scientist". Has this something to do with polarization?

Also, it could be worse: they could have written “Lady Scientist”.

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