Carlyle Harmon
Encyclopedia
Frank Carlyle Harmon was a former head of fabrics research for Johnson and Johnson. He is best known for his patent, held jointly with Billy Gene Harper of Dow Chemical, that made the possible the production of modern "superabsorbent" disposable diapers.
, and he was a lifelong Mormon
. At age ten he took a job at a printing office for a man named Henry Roth. In October, 1923 he attended Stanford University
, receiving a bachelor's degree
in 1927, a master's degree
in 1928, and a Ph.D.
in 1930. He married the former Delta Arbon on March 22, 1929. After working for the Marathon Paper co. of Wausau, Wisconsin
, for a time, Harmon was employed by the Chicopee division of Johnson and Johnson in 1947.
of Procter & Gamble
, required a core of thick rolls of paper in order to adequately contain fluid and guard against diaper rash
. This made the diapers undesirably heavy and bulky. In 1966, Harmon and Harper each independently discovered that a small amount of a highly absorbent polymer
could be more effectively used in place of rolls of paper in the diaper's core. The two men each filed substantively identical patents on the polymer at the same time.
Because diapers are a low-margin
product, it was deemed economically unfeasible to put Harmon and Harper's idea into mass production while the polymer was still under their patent protection. After the patent expired in the mid-1980s, however, manufacturers began to introduce "superabsorbent" disposable diapers, made with the polymers in place of excess paper in the diaper's core. The size and weight of disposable diapers then dropped substantially. This resulted in significant savings, both with regard to the cost of shipping large quantities of diapers from manufacturers to stores, and in the shelf space needed for the diapers in those stores. Additionally, newer studies on superabsorbent disposable diapers indicated that babies who wear those diapers experience diaper rash at a lower general rate than do those who wear cloth diapers.
and later to found Eyring Research Institute
.
Harmon was widowed in 1987, remarried in 1988 and died in 1997 after a lengthy illness.
Background
Harmon was born in Sugar City, Idaho to Frank Milton Harmon and Sophia Jones. He spent most of his childhood in Santa Clara, CaliforniaSanta Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
, and he was a lifelong Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
. At age ten he took a job at a printing office for a man named Henry Roth. In October, 1923 he attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, receiving a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1927, a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1928, and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1930. He married the former Delta Arbon on March 22, 1929. After working for the Marathon Paper co. of Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
, for a time, Harmon was employed by the Chicopee division of Johnson and Johnson in 1947.
"Superabsorbent" disposable diapers
The disposable diaper, in its original form invented by Victor MillsVictor Mills
Victor Mills was a chemical engineer for the Procter & Gamble company. He is most credited for the creation of modern disposable diapers and the Pampers brand, production improvements for Ivory soap and Duncan Hines cake mix, and the production concept for Pringles.Mills was born in Milford,...
of Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
, required a core of thick rolls of paper in order to adequately contain fluid and guard against diaper rash
Diaper rash
Irritant diaper dermatitis is a generic term applied to skin rashes in the diaper area that are caused by various skin disorders and/or irritants.Generic rash or irritant diaper dermatitis is characterized by joined patches of erythema and...
. This made the diapers undesirably heavy and bulky. In 1966, Harmon and Harper each independently discovered that a small amount of a highly absorbent polymer
Superabsorbent polymer
Superabsorbent polymers are polymers that can absorb and retain extremely large amounts of a liquid relative to their own mass....
could be more effectively used in place of rolls of paper in the diaper's core. The two men each filed substantively identical patents on the polymer at the same time.
Because diapers are a low-margin
Profit margin
Profit margin, net margin, net profit margin or net profit ratio all refer to a measure of profitability. It is calculated by finding the net profit as a percentage of the revenue.Net profit Margin = x100...
product, it was deemed economically unfeasible to put Harmon and Harper's idea into mass production while the polymer was still under their patent protection. After the patent expired in the mid-1980s, however, manufacturers began to introduce "superabsorbent" disposable diapers, made with the polymers in place of excess paper in the diaper's core. The size and weight of disposable diapers then dropped substantially. This resulted in significant savings, both with regard to the cost of shipping large quantities of diapers from manufacturers to stores, and in the shelf space needed for the diapers in those stores. Additionally, newer studies on superabsorbent disposable diapers indicated that babies who wear those diapers experience diaper rash at a lower general rate than do those who wear cloth diapers.
Later life
Harmon worked for Johnson and Johnson for 23 years. At the time of his 1970 retirement, he held 39 patents. He then went on to join the research department of Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and later to found Eyring Research Institute
Eyring Research Institute
Eyring Research Institute was founded as a non-profit organization, on September 6, 1972. in Provo, Utah.-History:Carlyle Harmon established the Eyring Research Institute with Dr. Ronald G. Hansen as President. This Institute did consulting work in various areas of contract research in cooperation...
.
Harmon was widowed in 1987, remarried in 1988 and died in 1997 after a lengthy illness.