Process and materials analysis and innovation characterize Dr Michael Brady’s career at 3M, Imation (spun off from 3M), Corning Glass and in consulting. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1961, Iowa State University in 1965 with a B.S. in chemical engineering and a Ph.D. from Oregon State University in 1969.
At 3M he invented trade secret processes for coating water-based adhesives that led to the creation of Post-It Notes® products; fused coating on carpet fibers; worked in processes for reflective highway signs, X-ray film and screens and color proofing materials for printing.
3M had worked for years to coat adhesives out of water emulsions from products like Scotch Tape® but could only coat them at half the speed necessary. By understanding the limits and finding process changes, the tape could be made at speeds six times faster.
At Corning Glass he worked in trade secret processes as well as patented processes in many areas such as cellular ceramics for automotive catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters.
Corning made 70 percent of the world’s catalytic converters for gas power autos. The company had worked for more than 30 years to improve the process beyond a 70 percent yield but in one year, Brady improved the yield to 100 percent. The same process change allowed the manufacturing of diesel particulate filters, an entirely new business. These changes have impacted all diesel trucks and gas cars manufactured since 2004.
He also was involved in trade secret and patented processes for print heads for high-density printing for DNA analysis, coating materials for ultra-thin glass for TV and computer screens, as well as hand-held devices.
Brady holds more than 20 patents worldwide and many of his trade secret processes are still being employed.
He helped establish the National Science Foundation Coating Center of Excellence at University of Minnesota and the Microelectronics Center at Iowa State. He has been inducted into Iowa State’s Chemical and Biological Engineering Hall of Fame and Oregon State’s Engineering Hall of Fame. He has served on the Oregon State Chemical Engineering Industry advisory board since 2013. He is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Chemical Society and the Radiological Society of North America.
He is also a commissioned minister in the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ and has served as an interim minister in churches in Pennsylvania and Iowa, including Central Christian Church in Jefferson in 2009.
He and his wife Janice live in Dakota Dunes, SD, and have two grown daughters. A public reception to honor Dr Brady will be held in the Greene County courthouse atrium immediately following the festival’s 6:30 pm opening ceremonies on the Bell Tower Plaza, Friday, June 13. Everyone is invited.
