Charles Shambelan (1930-2018) was a chemist and senior research fellow at the DuPont Company's Pioneering Research Laboratory from 1959 to 1990.

Shambelan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Temple University in chemistry and physical chemistry in 1951 and 1955, respectively. He received his docorate in physical chemistry from the University of Pennsylvnia in 1959.

Throughout his career at the DuPont Company, Shambelan made signifcant contributions to the development of Sontara, for which he holds several patents, and Kevlar.

While Kevlar was invented by his colleague, chemist Stephanie Kwolek (1923–2014), Shambelan was responsible for taking the synthetic fiber from the test-tube stage and making it in large enough quantities to test its reinforcement capabilities in various products.

Sontara is a synthetic fiber that can be made into a nonwoven wipe that is strong and absorbent without leaving lint. Sontara has applications in the aerospace, automotive refinishing, window cleaning, pharmaceutical, and food-preparation industries. In 1971, Shambelan and his colleague, F. James Evans (1921-2002), were awarded the patent for Sontara.