Inventor: Stephanie Kwolek

Stephanie Kwolek was born on July 31st 1923 in New Kensington (USA). Her father died when she was only ten years old, but he inspired her to be interested in science. She wanted to study medicine while growing up in New Kensington, but she studied Chemistry at university. After finishing her degree, she took a temporary research job with DuPont, an American chemical company, where her work became to be so interesting that she decided to stay.
She was one of the first women research chemists, and she became famous in 1964 when she invented ‘Kevlar’. At the time there was a shortage of petrol for cars, and so Dupont wanted to develop lighter tyres for cars. Kwolek invented a liquid crystalline polymer solution which was so strong that it led to the invention of Kevlar, a synthetic material that is five times as strong as steel!
Kevlar is resistant to corrosion and fire, and it is the main ingredient in the production of bullet-proof vests for the police and the army. Kevlar is also used in many other products, including skis, safety helmets, hiking and camping gear, and suspension-bridge cables. It is very light and practical.
She is only the 4th woman in history to be elected to the Inventors Hall of Fame (in 2003).
She changed the world because Kevlar has made many things safer and stronger. It is now used for the bodies of F1 racing cars, in helicopter rotor blades and for the roof of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium in 1976. Sportsmen and women have also benefitted. For example, it is used to make tennis racquets and Nike sports shoes.