But there were some of us who decided to stick it out, and I was one. Kwolek's work focused on polymers, the long, chain molecules at the base of synthetic fibers like nylon. She concentrated on finding polymers that would dissolve at low heat so they could be spun into fibers at room temperature. When she was assigned to research extra strong and stable polymers in 1964, she turned to liquid crystal solutions in which all the molecules line up in one direction. Her experiments yielded a solution unlike any she'd ever seen.
Most polymer solutions are thick, more like syrup.
This was more like water. Most solutions are transparent. That milkiness made the technician nervous about putting the solution into the fiber-making machine, called a spinneret. He thought there probably were solid particles that would clog up the spinneret's fine holes. Today, Kevlar is found in a range of products.