Joseph Shivers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph C. Shivers
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Pictured in the Chanticleer 1942, Duke University yearbook
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Joseph Clois Shivers Jr.
November 29, 1920 Marlton, New Jersey, United States
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| Died | September 1, 2014 (aged 93) Venice, Florida, United States
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| Alma mater | Duke University (B.Sc. 1942, M.A. 1943, Ph.D 1946) |
| Known for | development of Lycra (Spandex) |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | organic chemistry, textile chemistry |
| Institutions | DuPont, Canisius College |
Joseph Clois Shivers Jr. (November 29, 1920 – September 1, 2014) was an American scientist. He worked with textiles, which are fabrics and clothes. He is best known for his important role in creating Lycra, also called Spandex. This super stretchy material was developed in the 1950s while he worked at a company called DuPont.
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The Story of Lycra and Joseph Shivers
Joseph Shivers was a brilliant chemist who helped change the clothing industry. His invention, Lycra, made clothes more comfortable and flexible. It is now used in everything from swimsuits to sports gear.
Early Life and School
Joseph Shivers was born in 1920 in Marlton, New Jersey. He loved learning and went to Duke University. There, he earned three degrees: a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Arts, and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry. He finished his studies in the 1940s.
During World War II, while still a student, Joseph helped the United States government. He worked on developing a medicine to fight malaria. This was very important for soldiers serving overseas.
Inventing Super Stretchy Lycra
In 1946, Joseph Shivers started working for DuPont. He was a researcher, focusing on creating new materials called polymers. Polymers are large molecules made of many smaller units linked together.
He joined a project to make a new stretchy material that could replace rubber. Rubber was often used in clothing at the time. The project faced some challenges and was even put on hold for a while.
A Breakthrough Discovery
In the 1950s, Joseph Shivers had a big idea. He tried to change a material called Dacron, which is a type of polyester. His experiment worked! He created a new fiber that was incredibly stretchy. It could stretch up to five times its original length and still snap back into shape. This new fiber could also handle heat and be spun into thin threads.
The results were very good, and Joseph and his team worked hard to make this new polyester perfect. In 1959, it was finally ready and was first called Fibre K. Later, its name was changed to Lycra.
Lycra Changes Clothes
After this amazing discovery, Joseph Shivers was promoted to supervisor. DuPont started selling Lycra in 1962. It quickly became very popular in the clothing world. You can find Lycra in many types of garments today, including:
- Sports clothes
- Swimsuits
- Hosiery (like tights)
- Undergarments
By the early 1990s, Lycra was one of the most successful products for DuPont's synthetic fiber department. Joseph Shivers also taught at Canisius College while working at DuPont. He retired from DuPont in 1980, where he was the technical director of the fibers department.
Awards and Later Life
Joseph Shivers received several important awards for his work.
In 1998, he was given the prestigious Olney Medal. This award is for great achievements in textile chemistry. The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists presented him with this honor. His speech when he received the medal was called "The Search for a Superior Elastic Fibre."
DuPont also honored Joseph Shivers with their Lavoisier Medal in 1995. This is the highest award given by the company.
Joseph Shivers was married to Margaret Warren Shivers. They had three children together. In his free time, he enjoyed woodworking and wine tasting. He was also a member of two important groups: the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity and the American Chemical Society.
Joseph Shivers passed away on September 1, 2014, in Venice, Florida.
