Stephanie Kwolek
DuPont Laboratory
Stephanie Kwolek was a great chemist whose work has saved many lives. Her invention of Kevlar helped create many types of body armor that have been instrumental in keeping many men, women, and K-9’s safe. She originally got a Bachelor of Science chemistry degree in hopes of returning to school to become a medical doctor. Kwolek began working at DuPont in 1946 after she graduated. She began work at DuPont in the textile chemistry laboratories working in low-temperature processes to develop long chain molecules. With this process Kwolek was able to create hundreds of new polymers. (Selle, 2004).
During the 50’s and 60’s Kwolek worked with a type of polymer that had a very high melting point but that could be made into a strong and stiff fiber. In 1961, DuPont released that fiber and called Nomex which was described as being flame resistant. It was in 1971 that the company finally released Kwolek’s most well-known creation, Kevlar. She enjoyed her work so much that she continued to work at DuPont until she retired in 1986. (Encyclopedia Britannica).
