In Memoriam for Alfred

Rudin (1924–2011)

I took my first polymer science and engineering course from Dr. Alfred Rudin
in the early 1990s. In the class, we used the first edition of this book. It was pub-
lished in 1982 and was a result of a correspondence course given by Alf to “dis-
tance” students, mostly part-time students from local industry, at the University
of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. Since the book had been adopted by many uni-
versities, he updated it in 1999 (second edition). About two years ago, Alf
approached me to ask if I would be interested in doing the third edition. I was
flattered and agreed on the spot. Here, I would like to take this opportunity to
express my most sincere gratitude to Alf for his trust in me. Unfortunately, during
the preparation of this edition, Alf passed away. It was a loss to the polymer com-
munity to which Alf had contributed significantly.
Dr. Alfred Rudin was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on February 5, 1924. He
grew up in a small coal-mining town of Nordegg, that is about 200 km southwest
of Edmonton. When he was 17, he enlisted in the Canadian Army as an underage
soldier and served for the Signal Corps for 31/2 years. He went from the Army to
the University of Alberta in Edmonton to further his education. He graduated
from an honors chemistry program in 1949. In the same year, Alf married Pearl
and went to Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, where he did his doc-
toral work with Prof. Herman Pines in the area of catalytic organic chemistry.
In 1952, Alf, with Pearl, returned to Canada and started to work for the Central
Laboratory of Canadian Industries Limited (CIL) in McMasterville, Quebec, in a
variety of research and managerial positions. In 1967, he moved to the Department
of Chemistry at the University of Waterloo as a professor and stayed there for the
rest of his career. Alf authored and co-authored almost 300 refereed publications
and was granted 25 patents. Over the course of his academic career, Alf and
Dr. Kenneth F. O’Driscoll, a chemical engineering professor, cofounded the
Institute for Polymer Research at the University of Waterloo. Today, the Institute
includes about 20 professors and many corporate members. In the late 1970s, Alf
and Dr. Alan Plumtree, a mechanical engineering professor, upon a request from
the International Development Research Centre, designed a pump that is suitable
for small villages in developing countries. The so-called Waterloo Pump that they
designed is inexpensive, corrosion resistant, and easily repairable by people living
in developing countries. Today, millions of people living in developing countries
get their water using such pumps.
Alf was a remarkable mentor who inspired many students. In my view, he had
the passion and the unique abilities and insights to inspire and to advise students

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with very diverse backgrounds. In fact, all of his former graduate students really
appreciated his hints, comments, and advice on both technical and non-technical
matters. Owing to his thoughtful advice, many of us have embarked on enjoyable
and successful careers. Alf was a life-long learner. I witnessed him learning how
to use a computer in his mid-sixties. In fact, Alf prepared the soft version of the
entire manuscript of the second edition of this book on his own.
Alf received many awards for his accomplishments in his career. In particular,
he received the Protective Coatings Award of the Chemical Institute of Canada
and shared a Roon Award of the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology
in 1988. He was the first recipient of the Macromolecular Science and
Engineering Award of the Chemical Institute of Canada in 1989. Alf was a fellow
of the Chemical Institute of Canada, the Royal Society of Canada, and the
Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology. He was named Distinguished
Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo.
After Alf finished with his last graduate student, he and Pearl moved to
Toronto to enjoy their city life and to spend more time with their three sons,
Jonathan, Jeremy, and Joel, and their families. Alf was a devoted storytelling
grandfather of Shira, Jacob, and Arielle. I will always remember Alf as a great
advisor with broad scientific knowledge and as a kind person of good humor.