Elemer Kaiser Bolton ( June 23 , 1886 â `` July 30 , 1968 ) , was a chemist , and a biologist . He invented Neoprene . Elmer Keiser Bolton ( June 23 , 1886 â `` July 30 , 1968 ) was an American chemist and research director for DuPont , notable for his role in developing neoprene and directing the research that led to the discovery of nylon .