What is Kevlar?

Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires. Typically it is spun into ropes or fabric sheets that can be used as such or as an ingredient in composite material components.

Poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide – more commonly known and branded as Kevlar – is an organic fiber in the aromatic polyamide family. With five times the strength of steel on an equal-weight basis, it’s the unique properties and distinct chemical composition of wholly aromatic polyamide that distinguishes Kevlar from other man made fibers.

Made from a unique combination of high strength, high modulus, toughness and thermal stability, Kevlar was developed for the demanding industrial and advanced technology applications. Currently, Kevlar is used for a broad range of applications, best known for racing sails and body armour, and also PolySource’s conveyor belts, narrow tapes, seamless tubing and fabricated pad products.

Its strength to weight ratio is 5 times higher than steel, and therefore offers the advantage of weight savings. When used as a woven material, it is suitable for mooring lines, ropes and other underwater applications. It has outstanding resistance to harsh chemical environments.

Examples of its use include high performance footwear, audio equipment, high temperature industrial thermal insulation, frying pans, replacing asbestos in brakes, wind turbines, and composite materials.

Kevlar can also be combined with other higher temperature synthetic materials to enhance its properties for niche applications.

For more information on the Kevlar product range offered by PolySource, contact us directly here