Ever wonder how southern pine became a key ingredient in paper? Right here stands the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center. It is a place where innovation meets practical application.
Established in 1938, this center honors Charles H. Herty. He was a Georgia chemist who revolutionized the pulp and paper industry. Herty’s work proved that southern softwoods could be used to manufacture pulp and paper.
Back in 1932, Herty envisioned a lab to demonstrate his idea. He wanted to show that southern pine could produce newsprint. Initial funding came from various sources. These included the Chemical Foundation, the State of Georgia, and local businesses. The Savannah Pulp and Paper Laboratory was born. It stood at 512 West River Street. This was an early example of a public-private partnership.
Herty’s inventions were implemented in the 1940s and 1950s. His demonstration of newsprint production led to the first commercial newsprint mill in Lufkin, Texas in 1940. This boosted economic development in the South. It also helped the United States become a leading producer of pulp and paper.
Following Herty’s death in 1938, the lab was renamed the Herty Foundation. Its mission was to support the pulp and paper industry. Companies used Herty’s pilot facilities to evaluate products and processes. They worked on projects like pulping bamboo and silage sycamore. They also studied white-water chemistry.
In 2012, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal transferred the Herty Center to Georgia Southern University. This move aimed to enhance economic and business development in Georgia. This partnership links academic research with applied research at Herty.
Today, the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center remains a global leader in materials innovation. It helps developers with fiber recycling and bio-based chemical intermediates. The center supports materials innovation needs.
Herty Center has a rich history. It developed the acid sulfite process for softwoods. It also created cellulose acetate from southern pine. The center innovated recycling processes for synthetic and natural fibers. Innovative processes were created to add strength to building and paper products.
The Herty Center also contributed to the development of DuPont Kevlar and Nomex products. It developed innovative composites for the transportation industry. Friction products and synthetic non-woven fabrics for the medical industry were developed here as well.
The Herty Advanced Materials Development Center continues to uphold Herty’s vision. It recognizes new concepts. It encourages innovation. It unlocks commercial opportunities. The Herty Award recognizes an outstanding Southeastern chemist each year. It is a gold medal inscribed with For science and country. Charles Herty’s legacy lives on.