Kevlar Inventor Stephanie Kwolek Dead at 90

Kevlar inventor Stephanie Kwolek dead at 90.

ByABC News
June 20, 2014, 11:31 AM
Stephanie Kwolek, 83, shown in this June 20, 2007 file photo taken in Brandywine Hundred, Del., wears regular house gloves made with the Kevlar she invented.
Stephanie Kwolek, 83, shown in this June 20, 2007 file photo taken in Brandywine Hundred, Del., wears regular house gloves made with the Kevlar she invented.
Jennifer Corbett/The News Journal/AP Photo

— -- As one of the few pioneering female chemists in the 1960s, Stephanie Kwolek invented the flexible, tougher than steel fibers that were used to create life-saving body armor for law enforcement and soldiers.

Kwolek died this week at the age of 90, her co-workers at DuPont, the chemical company where Kwolek worked, confirmed to ABC News.

"She leaves a wonderful legacy of thousands of lives saved and countless injuries prevented by products made possible by her discovery," DuPont CEO Ellen Kullman said in a statement.

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In 1965, Kwolek devised a liquid crystal solution that could be cold-spun. Nearly half a century later, her discovery and legacy have endured through a variety of goods ranging from bulletproof vests to sports rackets and smartphones.

PHOTO: DuPont Kevlar XP X104 fabric is seen in this photo.
DuPont Kevlar XP X104 fabric is seen in this photo.

Earlier this week, the one millionth vest using the latest Kevlar technology was sold, according to DuPont, showing just how important Kwolek's discovery remains, even half a century after she did what researchers had long struggled to do.

PHOTO: Sgt. John Kirrane, right, models the new NYPD vest with added protection on the sides with overlapping Kevlar.
Sgt. John Kirrane, right, models the new NYPD vest with added protection on the sides with overlapping Kevlar as opposed to the less protection offered by the currently used vest on the left worn by Det. Allan Kilfoyle.

Kevlar has been used to make sporting goods "lighter, stronger and safer," according to DuPont. It can be found in motorcycle components and clothing, as well as skis, racquets, canoes and kayaks.

The durable, flexible material has also been integrated into personal electronics, such as the Motorola DROID RAZR, which is made with Kevlar unibody design

Kevlar's resistance to chemicals and extreme temperatures makes it ideal for personal electronics, according to DuPont's website.

PHOTO: Kevlar is used in this Motorola smartphone.
Kevlar is used in this Motorola smartphone.

Goodyear has used the material to create a tire with Kevlar reinforced sidewalls that DuPont said can increase puncture resistance by 35 percent.

PHOTO: A Goodyear tire uses the Kevlar material.
A Goodyear tire uses the Kevlar material.

Kwolek, who aspired to be a fashion designer before she discovered a love of chemistry, served as a mentor for other female scientists throughout her career. She also participated in programs aimed to introduce children to science.

Kullman remembered her as a "creative and determined chemist and a true pioneer for women in science."

A Catholic Mass to celebrate Kwolek's life is scheduled for June 28, according to the Associated Press.