Stephanie Kwolek

About

American chemist who invented poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide-better known as Kevlar, which is used in bicycle tires and body armor. She became the fourth woman to be added to the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1995.

Before Fame

She studied chemistry at Margaret Morrison Carnegie College, where she graduated in 1946.

Trivia

She received the Perkin Medal in 1997 from the American Chemical Society.

Family Life

Her parents were named Nellie and John.

Associated With

She was influenced by Madame Curie.