I never in a thousand years expected that small laboratory project would unfold as it did
Born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. My father died when I was 10. He was a naturalist who took me on walks through the woods to study plants. My mother was a seamstress who taught me to sew. I wanted to be a doctor but could not afford medical school, so I took a temporary job at DuPont to save money. I stayed 40 years. In 1965, I was working on lightweight fibers for tires when I produced a strange, cloudy solution. Most chemists would have thrown it away. I insisted on spinning it. The fiber was five times stronger than steel by weight. Kevlar. It now protects police officers, soldiers, firefighters, and astronauts. Tip: When the experiment gives you something unexpected, do not discard it. Investigate it. The biggest discoveries come from anomalies, not from predictions. Also: temporary jobs sometimes become life work.
Polymer Chemistry
Science · 40y
Material Science
Science · 40y
Fiber Technology
Engineering · 35y
Laboratory Research
Science · 40y
Hands-on session. Test the strength of different fibers: nylon, polyester, aramid (Kevlar), carbon fiber, silk. Measure tensile strength, stretch, and failure modes. Understand why Kevlar stops a bull...
€18 per_session
Five Kevlar fabric samples in different weave patterns: plain, twill, satin, unidirectional, and hybrid. Cut them, stretch them, test them. Feel the difference between weaves and understand why ballis...
€10 per_day
One-on-one. I took a temporary job and stayed 40 years. My biggest discovery came from a failed experiment. I will help you navigate a science career: when to persist, when to pivot, how to recognize ...
€15 per_session
Small group (max 4). We will test materials to destruction: pulling, bending, cutting. Measure force, elongation, and breaking point. Compare metals, plastics, composites, and natural fibers. The numb...
€16 per_session
Exported from BorrowHood · 2026-03-10