The invention of Kevlar

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Jul 24, 2025

Stephanie Kwolek, a Polish-American scientist, made history in 1965 by inventing Kevlar, a fiber five times stronger than steel. She shares her inspiring journey through the male-dominated field of chemistry at DuPont and the serendipitous discovery that led to a breakthrough in high-performance fibers. Kwolek discusses the diverse applications of Kevlar, from bulletproof vests to motorcycle gear, and emphasizes her passion for encouraging women and girls to pursue careers in science, leaving a lasting legacy in the industry.

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INSIGHT

Kevlar's Unique Properties

Kevlar's raw form is soft and silky but becomes incredibly strong and stiff after processing.
This property allows it to be used in life-saving equipment such as bulletproof vests.

ANECDOTE

Stephanie's Career Shift

Stephanie Kwolek initially planned to become a doctor but was captivated by chemistry and research instead.
Her passion shifted her career path entirely, leading to her groundbreaking work in polymers.

ANECDOTE

Women-Only College Experience

Stephanie experienced a positive educational environment with women professors at a women-only college.
This setting gave her freedom and opportunity to express herself during her studies in the 1940s.

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In 1965, a new fibre was discovered by Polish American scientist Stephanie Kwolek. It was called Kevlar and it was found to be five times stronger than steel.

Since that discovery it’s been used to save thousands of lives through its use in bulletproof vests, but it’s also used in hundreds of other products from aeroplanes to protective clothing for motorcyclists.

Stephanie was one of the only female scientists working for the chemical firm DuPont and was passionate about encouraging more women and girls into the field of chemistry.

Tim O’Callaghan has uses archive of Stephanie Kwolek from 1996 to tell the story of her discovery.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

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(Photo: Stephanie with items which use Kevlar. Credit: Smithsonian Institute)