The inventor of Kevlar? A Woman. ;) Meet Stephanie Kwolek (1923-2014). Pioneering chemist Stephanie Kwoleks invention of Kevlar has saved countless lives over the past 40 years. Kevlar is a fiber five times stronger than steel that is now used in numerous products ranging from boots for firefighters to spacecraft -- and most famously, in bulletproof vests. Its estimated that since Kevlars introduction to body armor in the 1970s, the lives of 3,000 police officers have been saved, as well as those of innumerable soldiers and others in conflict zones. On the day that she passed away last June at the age of 90, DuPont announced that the one-millionth protective vest made using Kwoleks lifesaving invention was sold. Born to Polish immigrants in 1923, Kwolek grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and earned a degree in chemistry from Margaret Morrison Carnegie College, now a part of Carnegie Mellon University. Kwolek initially planned to become a doctor but could not afford medical school. She accepted a position as a chemist with DuPont in 1946 on what she thought would be a temporary basis until she could pursue her interest in medicine. After becoming engrossed in research, she decided that chemistry was her passion and eventually stayed at DuPont for over 40 years. Kwolek discovered Kevlar while working as part of a team trying to find alternatives to replace the steel used in radial tires in order to make cars lighter in anticipation of a future gas shortage. In 1964, she was trying to convert a solid polymer into a liquid form and her creation turned out thin and opaque rather than the syrupy mixture she expected. Although her peers thought it was a failed experiment, she persisted with her investigation and discovered that, after the liquid was removed, the fiber was unusually stiff. Further research revealed the vast potential of Kwoleks discovery and DuPont eventually invested $500 million to develop it for commercial application. The recipient or co-recipient of 17 patents, Kwolek has been widely honored for her contributions to science, including the 1999 Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award, 1996 National Medal of Technology, the American Innovator Award, as well as being inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. DuPont also awarded her the companys Lavoisier Medal for outstanding technical achievement and she remains the only female employee to ever receive that honor. To Kwolek, however, who headed polymer research at DuPont until her retirement in 1989, the impact of her work was her greatest reward. In an interview with the Chemical Heritage Foundation, she observed: When I look back on my career Im inspired most by the fact that I was fortunate enough to do something that would be of benefit to mankind. Its been an extremely satisfying discovery. I dont think theres anything like saving someones life to bring you satisfaction and happiness.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:42:04 +0000
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