John Chipman

John Chipman (April 25, 1897 – May 14, 1983) was an American physical chemist and metallurgist known for applying principles of physical chemistry to the study of liquid metals and steelmaking processes. He served as head of the Department of Metallurgy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1946 to 1962 and made significant contributions to metallurgical science, including work on the Manhattan Project during World War II.

Early life and education Chipman was born in Tallahassee, Florida. His work included developing methods for converting powdered uranium into solid castings, addressing shortages of usable uranium metal for nuclear research.

Honors and recognition Chipman received awards for his contributions to metallurgy, including the 1955 Bessemer Gold Medal of the Iron and Steel Institute and the Benjamin F. Fairless Award of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME).

He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1955. He also served as president of the American Society for Metals and the AIME.

Personal life and death Chipman died on May 14, 1983, at his home in Winchester, Massachusetts, at the age of 86.