YOU CAN THANK STEPHANIE KWOLEK FOR YOUR BULLETPROOF VESTS


By bblouin
stephanie kwolek

From the battlefield to the warzone and even in sports, Kevlar is a synthetic fiber that has a wide range of applications. But if not for Stephanie Kwolek, a Polish-American chemist working for DuPont in 1965, who knows when and if this tremendous breakthrough would have occurred? Today, there are hundreds of applications for Kevlar, and its use throughout the U.S. military is vast. Arguably most famous for its application in bulletproof vests, the discovery by Stephanie Louise Kwolek extends much greater than stopping gunfire. Read next:How Hedy Lamarr Helped the Navy & Created WiFi in the Process

Stephanie Kwolek and Her Life-Saving Invention

Who invented Kevlar? The mother of Kevlar is none other than Stephanie Kwolek, who discovered the synthetic fibers while working as a chemist for DuPont. Stephanie Kwolek’s invention continues to be used and has had a profound impact on protection and durability in many applications and products. After graduating from the Margaret Morrison Carnegie College of Carnegie Mellon University, Kwolek applied to the DuPont Company, where she used her assertive nature to secure employment. But her career as a chemist was almost completely different. Thankfully, her ambitions to pursue medical school were dashed as she conducted polymer research that would ultimately lead to her groundbreaking discovery. Polyp-phenylene terephthalate and polybenzamide were the polymers that Kwolek discovered could create useful fibers after adjusting her temperature in the process. Her goal was to find a replacement for steel used in tires due to an impending gasoline shortage. What she found instead shocked the world. Although the application of her synthetic fibers was left up to others, it was her discovery that made it all possible. Now, we have Kevlar gloves protecting kitchen workers, the Kevlar helmet helping reduce injury in our troops, and hundreds of other uses.

Did Stephanie Kwolek Get Married?

No, Stephanie Kwolek would live to be 90 years old, yet she never married. However, her legacy for her invention continues to echo throughout the pages of history. Rightfully so, Kwolek would go on to receive a number of prestigious awards and accolades, including the following:

  • Chemical Pioneer Award.
  • Lavoisier Medal.
  • A spot in the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
  • National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
  • IRI Achievement Award.
  • Perkin Medal.
  • A spot in the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Civilization VI Gives the Inventor of Kevlar a Unique Tribute

There are plenty of cool ways to mention one’s achievements or to show tribute and respect. Being immortalized via a video game has to be one of the coolest examples in modern times. For those unfamiliar with the franchise, Civilization allows players to control nations and conduct their business as various governments. There are several aspects to running a country, and they are reflected in the game, including balancing a budget, advancing scientific achievements, establishing a culture, and conducting warfare. It would take forever to explain the intricacies of the title, but Stephanie Kwolek makes an appearance as a “unit” that helps players advance one of the aspects of the game, competing against other countries in the race to get to space. In Civ 6, Stephanie Kwolek is an Information Era Great Scientist who adds 100% production to your Space Race projects. It’s an interesting cameo and sign of respect from a beloved franchise that's noted for its ability to highlight important moments in the history of mankind.

How Did Stephanie Kwolek Die?

On June 18, 2014, Kevlar inventor Stephanie Kwolek, 90, died in the hospital after a brief illness. She was a proud chemist who helped push mankind forward. Today, protective gear in many different forms can perform that much better because of her discovery and commitment to science. Suggested read:Untold Stories: The Female Heroes of Pearl Harbor

Image: AP


CONNECT WITH US
VeteranLife Logo

©2024 VeteranLife. All rights reserved.