She was a scientist from a Polish family, born in the USA, and she dedicated her life to Chemistry. She made a discovery that saved many people’s lives: Kevlar.
Ever since she was little, she loved science and wanted to study Medicine to save lives. But she couldn’t afford it, so she got a degree in Chemistry instead and started working at the Du Pont company to earn money so she could become a doctor.
She liked her job at Du Pont so much that she didn’t want to study Medicine anymore and kept working with polymers. In 1965, she discovered a liquid and sticky polymer, Kevlar, which many people thought was a mistake. Stephanie even had to argue with a technician to get him to turn this substance into a fiber. The result was amazing: poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, better known as Kevlar.
Kevlar has as many as 200 uses, from tires to space equipment, underwater cables, helmets, brake pads, and bulletproof vests! It saves a lot of lives with that last use.
One interesting story is that one day, a big police officer came up to Stephanie Kwolek after she discovered Kevlar. He asked her to sign her autograph on his bulletproof vest made of the material that had just stopped two bullets from hitting his heart.
Some of her big awards include:
- Material Achievement Award (1978) – For discovering Kevlar
- National Medal of Technology and Innovation (1996) – Given by President Bill Clinton
- Perkin Medal (1997)
If the results I get aren’t completely good, I usually don’t throw away what comes out. I keep doing tests, I keep trying to see if I can get something out of it. - Stephanie Kwolek
