Frank M. Chapman is a pioneer in the fluoropolymer industry and in the development of fluoropolymer technologies and applications for the aerospace, chemical, and pulp and paper industries.

He was born and raised in a small town in Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1952 with a degree in chemistry.

Following graduation he joined the DuPont Company, and his first assignment was with the new material TEFLON. He left DuPont in 1961 to become general manager of the Plastics Department of Parco in Los Angeles, followed by an assignment with the Mather Company in Michigan.

Chapman was one of the founders of Fluorodynamics Inc. and Chapman Industries Inc., which were both subsequently sold to Corborundum. In 1980 he formed Chapman Associates and does consulting.

Some of Chapman's major achievements are as follows:

1957 - Developed automatic molding techniques and defined the shrinkage characteristics for molding TEFLON TFE (Tetrafluoroethylene) resins.

1958 - Studied and reported on the frictional properties of Tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) resins and their reinforcement with inorganic additives.

1959 - Initiated the most comprehensive study on the physical properties of TEFLON TFE, work that is still the standard text today.

1960 - Developed an isostatic molding process and made the first missile nose cones of TFE.

1964 - Engineered the first sealer that would make continuous seals of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) as strong as the base film. Led the development of the process to manufacture and install on a paper mill dryer the first FEP heat shrinkable roll cover.

1965 - Pioneered techniques and successfully lined chemical processing vessels with fluoropolymers.

1967 - Made the first glass-backed melt processable fluoropolymer sheet and linings.

1981 - Pioneered in the development and application of wet sprayed ultra thick TFE and perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) coatings.

1988 - Founded Fluoron Inc. with his son Randall Frank Chapman.

Chapman is the inventor or co-inventor of ten U.S. and foreign patents. In 1979 he was elected chairman of the Fluoropolymer Division of the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI).