Inventor of Kevlar dies aged 95
Stephanie L. Kwolek, the chemist who invented the super strong and lightweight fibre, Kevlar, has died aged 95.
The American chemist, who worked for DuPont when she synthesised the first liquid crystal polymer 1965, is the only company’s only female employee to be awarded its Lavoisier Medal for outstanding technical achievement.
The material’s original use was in vehicle tyres, but throughout the 1980s, DuPont introduced new varieties of Kevlar for such uses as cut-resistant gloves and lightweight body armour.
In a statement, DuPont’s Chief Executive, Ellen Kullman, described Kwolek as “and determined chemist and a true pioneer for women in science.”