KEVLAR By: 7B Group 6 Jeremy Gemzontan Jan Hobie Sinfuego Rafael Tan Dwight Ong Miguel Pingol

KEVLAR Kevlar was created by Stephanie Kwolek, a researcher at DuPont Company. Made of polymer. Used for bulletproof vests, underwater cables, brake linings, space vehicles, boats and parachutes.

KEVLAR Has a tensile strength-to- weight ratio that is 5 times stronger than steel. Is lightweight, making it a very useful material for many things.

POLYMER Polymer is a large molecule that is made of repeated structural units. Polymer is not only limited to plastics but actually covers many different materials.

Physical Properties Kevlar does not have a melting point as the polymer disintegrates before it can melt. Very strong, 5 times stronger than steel in fact. Has a density of It insulates electricity. It also insulates heat.

PRODUCTION A variety of chemicals are mixed together to which it will form a liquid-crystalline behavior. The chemical is then spun and waved with fibers to make a form of fabric which can then be cut and formed into different things.

PRODUCTION Producing Kevlar is very expensive because Kevlar is very hard to cut and weave and since it is 5 times stronger than steel. That means that to cut it, they need a material that is equal or greater than the strength of Kevlar.

STEPHANIE KWOLEK Was born in New Kingston, Pennsylvania in Graduated in 1946 from Carnegie- Mellon University. Invented Kevlar in the early 1960s. DuPont Company started developing it in Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Face in 1995.

TIMELINE 1965 Stephanie Kwolek, a DuPont research scientist, develops Kevlar® by spinning fiber from liquid crystalline solutions DuPont research scientist Herb Blades develops the revolutionary air gap spinning process, which enables large-scale production of Kevlar® brand fiber DuPont begins producing Kevlar® in large quantities in Richmond, VA First field trial of body armor made with DuPont™ Kevlar® conducted with police officers and sponsored by the National Institute of Justice First officer inducted into the IACP/DuPont™ Kevlar Survivors' Club® 1978 DuPont™ Kevlar® adopted by the U.S. Army for use in flak jackets and PASGT helmets The U.S. Military specifies that protective apparel be worn by its personnel; most of this protective apparel contains Kevlar® The U.S. Military makes its first major purchase of the PASGT Vest, which provides extraordinary protection against fragments.

TIMELINE 1985 The U.S. Military purchases the PASGT Helmet, at the time the best armor available for protection against fragmentation, heat and flame The U.S. Military places a major order for the CVC Vest because it offers superior ballistic protection from spall and fragmentation and does not melt or support combustion in air The U.S. Military purchases a large number of CVC Helmets In the Gulf War, most U.S. combat soldiers wore a helmet made of DuPont™ Kevlar®. The PASGT Vests worn by the military played a critical role in reducing the number of casualties during Desert Storm Fragmentation- and bullet- resistant Ranger Vests help save the lives of military personnel stationed in Somalia Countermine and Bomb Suits containing fabric made with DuPont™ Kevlar® help protect U.S. Army personnel serving in Somalia and Bosnia DuPont™ Kevlar® Correctional™ introduced – first 100% soft woven fabric for stab protection in corrections institutions The U.S. military makes its first major purchase of the Advanced CVC Helmet which in provides both bump and fragmentation protection. First commercial adoption of DuPont™ Kevlar® Correctional™ by New Jersey Correctional Institution.

TIMELINE 1998 The U.S. military makes its first major purchase of the Interceptor Vest. Even in extreme environmental conditions, this vest provides exceptional protection against a range of fragments and handgun bullets The U.S. Navy purchases the Navy Flak Vest, designed to help protect personnel above deck against flame and fragmentation The U.S. military makes its first major purchase of the MICH Helmet, which helps protect special operations personnel who must wear extensive communications equipment Interceptor Body Armor, also known as the Outer Tactical Vest, is credited with holding down casualties in Afghanistan Interceptor II Outer Tactical Vest developed for lighter weight protection in Iraq New Advanced Combat Helmet made with Kevlar® begins procurement. DuPont™ Kevlar® Comfort XLT™ vest technology adopted by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Officer Cory Grogan inducted into the IACP/DuPont™ Kevlar Survivors' Club® as the 3000th save.

TIMELINE “History of Kevlar”, retrieved on January 13, 2011 at 9:18pm from: r/en_US/products/history.html r/en_US/products/history.html

SOURCES /blkevlar.htmhttp://inventors.about.com/library/inventors /blkevlar.htm e.htm?site= ame/90.htmlhttp://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsit e.htm?site= ame/90.html