History

DuPont was founded in 1802 by Éleuthère Irénée du Pont in Delaware, United States. It began as a gunpowder mill, producing high-quality explosives that supported American industry and warfare throughout the 19th century. In the early 20th century, the company expanded into chemicals and materials, becoming a pioneer in synthetic innovations. DuPont introduced celluloid in the 1910s, nylon in 1935, Teflon in 1938, Kevlar in 1965, and Tyvek in 1967—developments that revolutionized industries from textiles to construction.
Over the following decades, DuPont grew into one of the world’s largest chemical companies, known for its major contributions to materials science, agriculture, and industrial chemistry. In the 2000s, the company began to shift its focus toward biotechnology, advanced materials, and sustainability. In 2017, DuPont merged with Dow Chemical to form DowDuPont, which later split in 2019 into three independent companies: Dow, DuPont, and Corteva. Today, DuPont de Nemours, Inc. concentrates on specialty products in electronics, transportation, construction, and safety materials, maintaining its long-standing reputation for scientific innovation and adaptability.