A Brief History of Kevlar

Posted by Neo Jeans on May 2nd, 2022

A Brief History of Kevlar begins with the invention of this remarkable material. In 1964, a young chemist named Stephanie Kwolek invented the substance that helps protect our bodies from harm. Born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Kwolek studied at the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and earned her bachelor\'s degree in chemistry. She then took a position with a textile fibers research lab in Buffalo, New York.

Kevlar is a lightweight, bulletproof plastic patented by Stephanie Kwolek in 1966. It is so strong that it can protect astronauts, protect undersea optical-fiber cable, and suspend super-strong ropes. Today, it is used in more than 200 applications, from car tires to firefighter boots to hockey sticks to armored vehicles. In addition to body armor, Kevlar is used in sports equipment, drumheads, Jeans, and even frying pans.

Kevlar was first marketed in 1971, but it took several years before its commercialization. The first commercial product made use of this material. It was made from a synthesis of a polymer known as p-benzamide. This material\'s rigid structure is made from repeating polymer chains of p-benzamide. It is then woven into fibers. During its development, Du Pont worked on developing a new technique for creating crystalline polymer chains. This process has produced the aramid fiber that we know today.

The invention of Kevlar changed the way we look at safety. It improved a material that had been designed decades earlier. Inventors like Kwolek can help save lives and protect people who need it most. In addition to bulletproof material, Kevlar is also used in high-performance sports gear, including motorcycle Jeans. Kevlar makes it possible to ride a motorcycle without fear of punctures.