Stephanie L. Kwolek
Also known as Stephanie Louise Kwolek, Stephanie Kwolek
American chemist, inventor of Kevlar (1923–2014)
AI overview
Stephanie L. Kwolek was an American chemist who invented Kevlar, a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional strength and heat resistance. Her invention has become widely used in protective equipment like bulletproof vests, helmets, and aerospace applications, making her a significant figure in materials science and public safety.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Music · MusicBrainz
- Type
- Person
- Gender
- Male
- Origin
- Germany
- Active from
- 1770-12-17
- Active to
- 1827-03-26
32 sonatasbeethoven gardinerclassicalclassical periodcompletecomposer
Article
Stephanie Louise Kwolek (/ˈkwoʊlɛk/; July 31, 1923 – June 18, 2014) was an American chemist known for inventing Kevlar (poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide). Her career at the DuPont company spanned more than 40 years.
For her discovery, Kwolek was awarded the DuPont company's Lavoisier Medal for outstanding technical achievement. Before 2021, she was the only female employee to have received that honor. In 1995 she became the fourth woman to be added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Kwolek won numerous awards for her work in polymer chemistry, including the National Medal of Technology, the IRI Achievement Award and the Perkin Medal.
Gallery (4)
Connections
Categories
1923 births2014 deaths20th-century American chemists20th-century American inventors20th-century American women inventors20th-century American women scientistsAmerican people of Polish descentAmerican women chemistsCarnegie Mellon University alumniCatholic Church and scienceDuPont peopleHistory of the chemical industry