Nicholas William Tschoegl Oral History Interview
Interviewed by Shirley K. Cohen
Interview Sessions from 2001
- April 25, 2001
- June 18, 2001
Abstract
An interview in five sessions, April-June 2001, with Nicholas W.
Tschoegl, professor of chemical engineering, emeritus, in the Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Dr. Tschoegl, a native of
Moravia, recalls his French/Austrian background, World War II service in
Hungarian Army, and postwar control of Hungary by the Communists. Leaves
Hungary in October 1948, via Austria, arrving in Australia 1949. BSc
from New South Wales University of Technology; PhD in rheology with A.
E. Alexander, University of New South Wales, 1958. Discusses his work on
dough rheology, Bread Research Institute of Australia.
Work with J. D. Ferry, University of Wisconsin, 1961-1963, on polymers.
Stanford Research Institute, 1963-1965. Joins Caltech faculty, 1965, as
associate professor of materials science in engineering division. Works
on solid propellants for rockets, funded by air force. In 1967, becomes
professor of chemical engineering in Division of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering. Discusses polymers and synthetic rubber. Recalls visiting
professorships: Delft; Gutenberg University, Mainz; Imperial College,
London; Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules, Strasbourg; ETH,
Zurich. Discusses block copolymers and spectral functions;
time-dependent properties of polymers; WLF [Williams-Landel-Ferry]
equation to block copolymers and other multitransition systems;
development of FMT [Fillers-Moonan-Tschoegl] equation. Formation of
International Congress and International Committee on Rheology. Recalls
Caltech’s interaction with Soviet scientists and subsequent
estrangement, mid-1980s. Discusses managing Caltech’s Watson lectures;
post-retirement visiting professorship at University of Ljubljana, with
Igor Emri; Emri’s work at Caltech with Wolfgang Knauss; founding of
journal Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials. Discusses his two books:
The Phenomenological Theory of Linear Viscoelastic Behavior and
Fundamentals of Equilibrium and Steady-State Thermodynamics. Recalls
consultancies: with JPL’s polymer section, 1960s; Phillips Petroleum,
1968-1983; Firestone Tire & Rubber, 1974-1980; Naval Weapons Center.
Comments on colleagues and past Caltech presidents; recalls death of
chemical engineer and Caltech vice president William Corcoran. Tschoegl
concludes interview by listing his memberships in professional societies
and other professional activities.
Archival record in collection guide
PDF version of transcript [0.47 MB]
Preferred Citation
Nicholas William Tschoegl Oral History Interview, interviewed by Shirley K. Cohen, Caltech Archives Oral History Project, April 25, 2001, June 18, 2001, http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Tschoegl_N.
Oral history interviews provide valuable first-hand testimony of the past. The views and opinions expressed in them are those of the interviewees, who describe events based on their own recollections and from their own perspective. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the Caltech Archives and Special Collections or of the California Institute of Technology.