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John Twiss Blake was a research scientist at the Simplex Wire and Cable Co. in Boston, Massachusetts who, along with Charles R. Boggs, found that proteins present in natural rubber were responsible for water absorption. Blake and Boggs showed that the proteins could be isolated by repeated centrifugal action on liquid latex. In 1926 Simplex applied for a patent on the deproteinized rubber. This became the basis for a new product family of lightweight, moisture-proof Anhydrex-insulated power and communication cables. He made significant contributions to understanding various degradation mechanisms of rubber, including the effects of water absorption, exposure to light, ozone, and microbes.
Blake was born and educated in Boston. He graduated from Tufts College with honors in 1921 with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1924 with a doctorate in organic chemistry and chemical engineering. His doctoral advisor was James F. Norris, and the title of his thesis was Rates of reaction of certain organic chlorine compounds.
After obtaining his doctoral degree, he worked at Simple Wire and Cable Co., starting as a research chemist and eventually serving as senior vice president. Blake was an organizer and chairman of the Boston Rubber Group.
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