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Stephanie Kwolek
1923–2014 · Chemist
A DuPont chemist whose pioneering polymer research led to Kevlar, an exceptionally strong lightweight fibre used in protective equipment and many other applications.
“The real satisfaction from a job well done is in the doing of it.”
Why is this scientist famous?
Discovering the unusual liquid-crystalline polymer solution that led to Kevlar, a fibre about five times stronger than the same weight of steel and widely used in ballistic-resistant body armour and many other products.
Stephanie's story
Early Life and a Love of Science
Stephanie Kwolek was born on July 31, 1923, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, a small industrial town near Pittsburgh. Her father, an amateur naturalist, took her on walks through the woods and taught her to identify plants, insects, and birds, sparking a lifelong love of science. He died when she was only 10, but his curiosity lived on in her. She studied chemistry at Margaret Morrison Carnegie College, the women's college of what is now Carnegie Mellon University, graduating in 1946. She planned to go to medical school, but she needed money to pay for it, so she applied for a temporary job at the chemical company DuPont, thinking she would save up and move on.
Finding Her Place at DuPont
The temporary job at DuPont changed everything. Kwolek was assigned to a research group working on synthetic polymers, the long-chain molecules used to make plastics and fibers. She discovered that she loved the work — the puzzle of designing new molecules, the challenge of turning a chemical formula into a real material you could hold in your hand. She was so good at it that she abandoned her medical school plans and stayed at DuPont for 40 years. Her research on polymers that could be processed into high-performance fibres contributed to a new understanding of liquid-crystalline polymer solutions.
The Discovery of Kevlar
In 1965 Kwolek was researching high-performance synthetic fibres when she produced an unusual polymer solution. Instead of being thick and clear like most polymer solutions, it was thin and cloudy. The technician responsible for the spinning equipment initially worried that the mixture might clog the machine, but Kwolek persuaded her colleagues to test it. The resulting fibres were remarkably strong, stiff and lightweight. Her discovery opened the way to the family of aramid fibres that included Kevlar. Other DuPont scientists and engineers then helped develop the manufacturing processes and commercial product.
Legacy
Kevlar entered commercial use in the early 1970s and found applications far beyond its original tyre-related research. It became an important material in ballistic-resistant body armour and has helped protect thousands of police officers, military personnel and others. It is used in suspension bridge cables, spacecraft, racing sails, skis, and even the gloves used to protect hands from cuts and bites. Kwolek herself remained humble about the discovery, always crediting the team that helped develop Kevlar into a commercial product. She became a mentor to other women in chemistry and a passionate advocate for science education. She received the National Medal of Technology in 1996 and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1995, only the fourth woman to receive that honour. She died on June 18, 2014, in Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 90.
What did they discover?
Invention of Kevlar
Kwolek discovered an unusual liquid-crystalline polymer solution that could be spun into exceptionally strong, stiff fibres. Her work led to Kevlar, which is about five times stronger than the same weight of steel.
Low-Temperature Polymer Processing
Her research on polymers that could be processed into high-performance fibres contributed to a new understanding of liquid-crystalline polymer solutions.
Amazing facts
She took the job at DuPont only as a temporary way to save money for medical school, then stayed 40 years and discovered the polymer solution that led to Kevlar.
Her father was an amateur naturalist who sparked her love of science on walks through the woods before he died when she was 10.
The unusual polymer solution was cloudy and watery rather than thick and clear. The technician operating the spinneret initially worried that it might clog the machine, but Kwolek persuaded him to test it.
Kevlar is about five times stronger than the same weight of steel and is widely used in protective equipment, including ballistic-resistant body armour.
She was only the fourth woman inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
She received the National Medal of Technology in 1996, America's highest honour for technological achievement.
Kevlar is used in ballistic-resistant body armour, suspension bridge cables, spacecraft, racing sails, skis, and cut-resistant gloves.
She always credited the team that helped develop Kevlar into a commercial product, never claiming the achievement alone.
She mentored young women in chemistry and became a passionate advocate for science education.
Timeline
Born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania
Graduated in chemistry from Margaret Morrison Carnegie College and joined DuPont as a temporary employee
Moved with DuPont's Pioneering Research Laboratory from Buffalo to Wilmington, Delaware, and committed herself to a research career
Discovered the polymer solution that would become Kevlar, insisting on testing a cloudy mixture others wanted to discard
Kevlar entered commercial production and began finding a wide range of industrial uses
Kevlar-based police body armour underwent major U.S. field trials
Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, only the fourth woman to receive the honour
Received the National Medal of Technology, America's highest honour for technological achievement
Died in Wilmington, Delaware, on June 18, age 90
Awards & honours
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