Protective Materials

Market Needs: Lighter Weight, High Strength, Reduce Carbon Footprint

Improving safety for those that protect us—law enforcement, first responders, and military service personnel—while they keep communities around the world safe. Dyneema® has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any material on Earth, allowing armor solutions to maintain the highest levels of protection without sacrificing user comfort or maneuverability. In fact, Avient works directly with industry-leading armor manufacturers to develop technologies that are fit-for-purpose. Beyond continual innovation and collaboration, the lightweight construction of armor made with Dyneema® helps mitigate long-term injuries associated with the cumulative effect of daily armor use, safeguarding lives on the front lines and beyond.

Dyneema® began as an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMPE fiber). Through innovation and collaboration the portfolio has expanded not only in the number of applications but also in the different forms that are available. All of these form factors share these winning properties:

• Ultra high strength versus weight (15 times stronger than steel, on weight per weight ratio)
• Low elongation at breaking point
• High resistance to UV radiation
• Chemically inert
• Floats on water
• Highly flexible
• High energy absorption
• No smell or taste, non-toxic
• Self-lubricating, with low friction

Dyneema® UD is a unidirectional composite laminate that provides the lightest weight protection with maximum flexibility and comfort for use in protective armor applications including soft armor, hard armor, helmets and frag knits. It offers excellent energy absorption and enhanced protection in a lightweight solution. Dyneema® solutions are up to 35% lighter than aramid and 75% lighter than steel.

Other Dyneema® form factors include Dyneema® Fiber and Dyneema® Fabric. Bio-based Dyneema® fiber is available in fiber, unidirectional laminate and fabric.