Overview

Dr. Wallace Hume Carothers (1896-1937) spearheaded DuPont's first decade of basic organic chemistry research. Carothers was lured from Harvard to DuPont in 1927 with the promise that he could pursue basic research, specifically looking at polymers – molecules with long, repeating chain structures. In one remarkable month, April 1930, Carothers’ team discovered neoprene synthetic rubber and synthesized the first polyester superpolymer, the forerunner of nylon. During his nine years with DuPont, Carothers filed for more than 50 patents.