Which chemist invented Kevlar, the exceptionally strong synthetic fiber, in 1965?

Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar, the exceptionally strong synthetic fiber, in 1965.

Kwolek was a Polish-American chemist who worked for DuPont. While searching for lightweight materials suitable for vehicle tires, she created an unusual liquid-crystal polymer solution. Instead of discarding it because it looked cloudy, colleagues spun it into fibers and found that the resulting material had remarkable strength and stiffness.

Kevlar is an aromatic polyamide, or aramid. It is about five times stronger than steel by weight, although comparisons vary with the grades and testing methods involved. The material is used in bullet-resistant body armor, helmets, ropes, tires, gloves, and aerospace components.

A common mix-up is crediting DuPont itself rather than Kwolek. DuPont developed and commercialized the material, but Kwolek is recognized as its inventor. Kevlar was introduced commercially in the 1970s, after the original 1965 discovery.