C4IP is recognizing Stephanie Kwolek (1923-2014), a pioneering chemist who revolutionized materials science and saved lives through her invention of Kevlar.
- Kwolek joined chemical manufacturer DuPont in 1946 as a researcher, intending to earn money for medical school, but instead discovered a passion for polymer chemistry that reshaped her entire career.
- In 1964, while working to create a fuel-efficient material for car tires, Kwolek discovered a new material that could be spun into fibers five times stronger than steel — what we now know as Kevlar.
- Kwolek patented her invention in 1974 and ultimately earned 17 patents in her career.
- Kwolek later earned the National Medal of Technology and the USPTO’s American Innovator Award for her pioneering work.
- Kwolek’s invention is perhaps best known for its impact-absorbent and heat-resistant properties; today, Kevlar is used in lifesaving equipment for soldiers, firefighters, and even professional racecar drivers.
- But the material also has numerous other applications, including being used in tires, fiber-optic cables, bicycles, boats, aircraft, and International Space Station
- Today, the global market for Kevlar is estimated at over $1.6 billion