Robert L. Coble

Robert Louis Coble (January 22, 1928 – August 27, 1992) was an American ceramic scientist, notable for his discovery of Coble creep, the effect that carries his name, and for his invention of Lucalox. ^{[1] [2] [3]} Coble was a member of the National Academy of Engineering.^[2][4] The National Academy of Engineering said that Coble was "widely recognized for his contributions to the theory of sintering of materials and to ceramic processing".^[2] Coble received Humboldt Research Award in 1984.^[2] The American Ceramic Society established an award in Coble's name: Robert L. Coble Award for Young Scholars.^[5]

Biography

Coble was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Bethany College (1950) and received his doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1955). After graduation from MIT, Coble worked as a researcher at the General Electric Research Laboratory. He Joined MIT faculty in 1960, and became a full professor at MIT in 1969. Coble retired in 1988 and died by drowning in 1992.

Coble drowned off the coast of the island of Maui in Hawaii on August 27, 1992.^[1]

References

1. MIT: The Tech-Online Edition; Robert L. Coble, Retired Professor, Dies at 64; Robert L. Coble, a retired professor of materials science and engineering and a widely recognized ceramics researcher.
2. National Academy of Engineering, Memorial Tributes: Volume 7 (1994);ROBERT L. COBLE;BY MERTON C. FLEMINGS
3. Journal of the American Ceramic Society; Robert L. Coble:A Retrospective
4. New York Times: The National Academy of Engineering yesterday announced the election of 100 engineers to membership in the academy and the election of 19 foreign associates; Robert L. Coble, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass; April 2, 1978.
5. American Ceramic Society: Robert L. Coble Award for Young Scholars