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Catalytic converter device inventors win National Medal of Technology
Greenwire
03/16/2005 05:54 PM


Body: President Bush awarded the National Medal of Technology Monday to three Corning Co. scientists who invented the honeycomb structure and material used in catalytic converters.

The device, which uses precious metals to turn gases from auto engines into water vapor, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, is responsible for preventing an estimated 3 billion tons of toxic pollutants from entering the air. The inventors, Rodney Bagley, Irwin Lachman and Ronald Lewis, developed the device in the early 1970s. The ceramic substrates are now used in 95 percent of all cars worldwide.

The catalytic converter is widely credited with improving air quality. "People don't realize how bad it was when millions of cars were spewing out deadly fumes," said Bagley, who has since retired. "Many of the cities were almost unbreathable."

By 2007, federal rules will require all new diesel engines to use the technology (AP/Newsday, March 14). -- CD

Reprinted from Greenwire with permission from E&E Publishing, LLC
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