In Depth
Chemist Stephanie L. Kwolek developed the first liquid crystal polymer which provided the basis for Kevlar® brand fiber. A native of Pittsburgh, Kwolek earned a degree in chemistry from what is now Carnegie Mellon University. She joined DuPont in 1946 and in 1950 joined the search for new polymers and lower temperature condensation processes needed to produce specialty textile fibers. DuPont scientists struggled to develop a stiffer and tougher nylon-related fiber until 1965, when Kwolek broke the deadlock by devising a liquid crystal solution that could be cold-spun. Her discovery ultimately resulted in the commercialization of Kevlar® , a fiber that is five times stronger than the same weight of steel. Kwolek was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1996.
Kevlar® was little known during the 15 years when DuPont spent $500 million to develop the product that Fortune magazine called “a miracle in search of a market.” DuPont began developing the substance for use in tires under the working name “Fiber B” at a pilot plant in Richmond, Virginia.
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