Nathan L. Zutty, chemical industry inventor and senior executive, died Jan. 1 at his longtime home in New Canaan, Conn. He also lived in Oak Bluffs.

After taking his doctorate in chemistry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at the age of 24, he joined Union Carbide (now merged with Dow Chemical) in their research and development division, quickly rising to become vice president of research and development for Carbide.

Mr. Zutty was a prolific inventor, holding 20 U.S. patents and numerous foreign ones in the polymer and plastics field. During the Viet Nam War, he moved rapidly to help the Pentagon solve a serious problem: dust kicked up by helicopters and other vehicles was damaging mechanical equipment at Cam Ranh Bay. He and colleague A. T. Anderson came up with six products for dust control. Four of them headed the list of all candidates submitted. One was given the go-ahead, and shipments to Viet Nam began within a matter of hours.

Mr. Zutty subsequently held several senior executive positions, including chairman of Union Carbide Europe and president of Solvents and Coatings Materials.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Nov. 24, 1933, he was the son of the late Lester Zutty and Blanche Kammerling Zutty.

He was predeceased by his wife of 31 years, Jone Latterner Zutty.

Survivors include his daughter Kathrin Petterelli, a son, a brother, Lawrence Zutty, and a sister, Judith Apfelbaum, three grandsons and close friend and companion, Marina Draginsky.

Funeral services were held Jan. 4 at the Hoyt Funeral Home, New Canaan, Conn. Interment followed in Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan.

Contributions may be made in memorium to Yale-New Haven Hospital Development Office, P.O. Box 1849, New Haven CT 06508.