Edwin P. Plueddemann made major contributions to the field of reinforced plastics and adhesions. In the 1950s he systematically searched for organofunctional silanes that would serve as coupling agents in glass-reinforced polyester and epoxy composites. Plueddemann created a class of materials known as silane coupling agents, which are capable of bonding two dissimilar materials to each other.

Plueddemann graduated cum laude from Baldwin Wallace College with a B.S. in chemistry and earned his PhD in chemistry at Ohio State University. He worked at Dow Corning Corp., where he achieved the position of senior scientist.

Early in the development stage of silane coupling agents, Plueddemann realized the potential importance of this technology as a basis for improving properties of plastics materials to allow for their expanded use in a wide variety of applications. He developed new chemical types of coupling agents as well as theories of mechanism, and studied the effects of the agents on various properties. He also extended the technology to improve the bonding of plastics, sealants, protective coatings, and adhesives to inorganic surfaces.

Plueddemann was an active member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, the Honorary Research Society, the Adhesion Society, the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). His research was published extensively. He holds 71 U.S. patents, contributed numerous chapters to various books, and was the author of the book Silane Coupling Agents. He was a consultant for the U.S. government and is recognized throughout the world as an expert in the science of adhesion and bonding of plastics materials.

In 1984, Plueddemann received an award for Creative Development of Technical Innovation from NASA, as well as the American Chemical Society (ACS) Award for Creative Invention. In 1988, he received the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Engineering/Technology Award. He was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1988.

See: "Dr. Edwin P. Plueddemann: Scientist, Inventor, Teacher, Author, Consultant and Counselor 1916-1991," Jerry Klosowski, The Journal of Adhesion, 1545-5823, Volume 35, Issue 1, 1991, Pages 1-5, available online.