What substance did Stephanie Kwolek?
Kevlar®
That discovery made way for Kwolek’s invention of industrial fibers that today protect and save thousands of lives. Most notable among these is Kevlar®, a heat-resistant material that’s five times stronger than steel, but lighter than fiberglass.
What was Stephanie Kwolek childhood like?
Kwolek (1923–2014) was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Her father, who died when she was 10 years old, was a naturalist by avocation. She spent many hours with him exploring the woods and fields near her home and filling scrapbooks with leaves, wildflowers, seeds, grasses, and pertinent descriptions.
What did Stephanie Kwolek invent for kids?
Kevlar fiber
Her team was tasked with creating a strong, lightweight fiber that would replace steel wire in tires. Stephanie was up for the challenge. She invented Kevlar fiber, which is made by spinning strands of polymer together.
How did Stephanie Kwolek come up with Kevlar?
Kwolek discovered Kevlar while working with polymers for tires. DuPont anticipated that a future gas shortage meant cars would want lighter tires, but at a similar strength as before. Since then, Kevlar has gone on to have hundreds of uses.
Where did Stephanie Kwolek do her work?
Age 23, Kwolek graduated with a degree in chemistry from Margaret Morrison Carnegie College of Carnegie Mellon University. She was quickly recruited to work as a chemist at Dupont Chemicals in Buffalo, NY. Four years later, she moved to Wilmington, Delaware where she spent the remainder of her career with DuPont.
What did Stephanie Kwolek 1966 develop by mistake what is it known as today and who uses it?
Stephanie Louise Kwolek (/ˈkwoʊlɛk/; July 31, 1923 – June 18, 2014) was an American chemist who is known for inventing Kevlar. Her career at the DuPont company spanned more than 40 years.
Is there anything named after Stephanie Kwolek?
Kevlar. Kwolek is best known for her work during the 1950s and 1960s with aramids, or “aromatic polyamides,” a type of polymer that can be made into strong, stiff, and flame-resistant fibres. The innovative polymer Poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide, as invented by Kwolek, was released commercially under the name Kevlar.
Is Kevlar still used today?
It is already being used in the production of hoses, belts and other materials that could benefit from some extra reinforcement. One of the growing areas of use for Kevlar is in protective clothing for construction workers, builders and more. It is now being woven into equipment like boots and gloves.
Who was Stephanie Kwolek married to?
Kwolek, who stood just 4 feet 11 inches tall, never married.
What is an interesting fact about Stephanie Kwolek?
Stephanie Kwolek was an organic chemist, best known for inventing Kevlar in 1965. Kevlar is an immensely strong plastic, first used as a replacement for steel reinforcing strips in racing car tires, and now used in a large number of applications where high strength is required without high weight.
What did kwolek do after she retired?
Retirement. In 1986, Kwolek retired as a research associate for DuPont. Toward the end of her life, she consulted for DuPont, and served on both the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences.
Can a knife go through Kevlar?
Kevlar® is used in both bulletproof and stab proof vests. The sharp edge of the knife is then unable to penetrate through to the flesh because it is caught within the Kevlar® weaving. Although the cutting motion will damage the vest carrier, the wearer will be protected from the knife.