Harry Rehnberg

Harry Rehnberg (1910–1975) was an American chemist and businessperson most notable for being the founder of Halcon International and for inventing the revolutionary Halcon process.

Early life

Rehnberg was born in Everett, Washington, November 21, 1910, the son of Swedish immigrants Alex Rehnberg and Helen Rehnberg.

Education

He completed his degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Manhattan Project

It was during World War II that he worked on the development of the atom bomb in the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Halcon International

In 1962 Ralph Landau and Harry Rehnberg discovered a novel process - the Halcon process - for converting propylene intopropylene oxide. In the new process, hydroperoxides serve as a source of oxygen atoms, which are transferred to the olefin by metal catalysts. Propylene oxide is used in polyurethane foams and in rigid polymers. The side products of the reaction include styrene and tert-Butyl alcohol, which are also useful. The company reorganized in 1963 to form Halcon International, in preparation for expansion. Rehnberg was chairman of the new company, and Landau president. Five subsidiaries were created:

Halcon Research and Development Halcon Scientific Design for design and construction Halcon Computer Technologies for computerized engineering services Catalyst Development Corp. for manufacture of proprietary catalysts Halcon Chemical Company.