Dyneema Fiber

Introduction:
Dyneema is not a thing of fiction sci-fi, fantasy or otherwise it is the product of real hard science. And
that means the claims of it being stronger than steel while still remaining flexible as cloth are backed up
with data. But, if the stuff isn’t magic, then what, exactly, is it? Dyneema is Ultra high molecular weight
polyethylene (UHMWPE), this is the technical term for what is commonly known as Dyneema. Dyneema
is a thermoplastic polyethylene. It meaning that, while it actually falls under the umbrella of plastic, it is
pliable and moldable above a certain temperature and solidifies upon cooling much in the same way
that metal do. It differs from metal however, in that after cooling it does not necessarily become rigid
and brittle. Rather, it retains a measure of pliability, similar to common textiles. That particular
combination of factors means that, while the material is extremely flexible, it’s also incredibly strong
with some claims putting it at around 15 times stronger than steel (of a similar thickness. It also has
other chemical properties that put it head and shoulders above other competing materials. For instance,
Dyneema is resistant to many corrosive chemicals, is extremely resistant to abrasion, and has an
exceedingly low rate of moisture absorption putting it squarely in the realm of waterproof fabric. And
while things like nylon share many of those same characteristics, Dyneema performs better in all
categories across the board. Dyneema is also formed from fibers, at its basest physically-observable
level. For reference, a fiber is defined as “a thread or filament from which a vegetable tissue, mineral
substance, or textile is formed. These fibers are what allow the material to be turned into strands and
then woven together to create fabrics which can be made entirely from Dyneema or intertwined with
other types of fabrics to imbue the new material with a lot of the properties that make Dyneema so
special. Combination fabrics, like that used in denim jeans, that use Dyneema in their construction are
not going to be as strong as Dyneema alone, but they do greatly benefit from the addition.

History of dyneema fiber:

Dyneema fibers were invented over 20 years ago and by a company called DSM Dyneema and has been
in production since 1990. Dyneema fiber is a gel-spun, multi-filament fiber that is created from ultra
high molecular weight polyethylene. Polyethylene is a common chemical combination used in many
plastic, but Dyneema's is much more than a common plastic. Dyneema is actually a proprietary material,
meaning there’s only one company in the world that has the rights to manufacture it. What you might
not know, however, is that that company, DSM, wasn’t in the business of technical fabrics when the
material was invented. In fact, they were actually entrenched in the coal mining and fertilizer business.
Dyneema was discovered completely by accident in 1963 when a chemist who worked for DSM, Dr.
Albert Pennings, was doing research into polyethylene (plastic, to the laymen).
Chemical structure of dyneema fiber :

Dyneema fibres are produced from polyethylene with a very high molecular weigh (UHMW-PE) This
material is Chemically identical to normal high density polyethylene (HDPE) but molecular weight is
higher the commonly used PE grades.

Structure of Dyneema, with n greater than 100,000

Production process of dyneema fiber :

The molecules are dissolved in a solvent span trough a spinneret. In the solution the molecules become
disentangled and remain in that state after the solution is spun and cooled to give filaments. The term
'gel spinning' derives its name from the gel like appearance of the dissolved polymer/solidified filament.
Because of its low degree of entanglement, the gel spun material can be drawn to a very high extent As
the fibre is super drawn, a very high level of macromolecular orientation is attained.
Properties of dyneema fiber:

Thermal properties

Like other synthetic fibers, the mechanical properties of UHMWPE fibers are influenced by temperature.
The strength and modulus increase at sub-ambient temperatures and decrease at higher temperatures.
For long duration exposure UHMWPE fiber from DSM can be used from cryogenic conditions up to a
temperature of 70°C.

Dyneema® fiber has a melting point between 144oC and 152oC. The tenacity and modulus decrease at
higher temperatures but increase at sub-zero temperatures. There is no brittle point found as low as -
150oC, so the fiber can be used between this temperature and 70oC. Brief exposure to higher
temperatures will not cause any serious loss of properties.

Static load

With increasing static load and temperature, the Dyneema® fiber elongates irreversibly. This is called
creep. Among the commercial available HMPE fibers, Dyneema® shows the lowest creep with the
longest creep life. DSM has developed a widely accepted model for accurate creep calculations. These
calculations support the search for applicability of the Dyneema® fiber in most applications.

Mechanical properties

UHMWPE fibers have a high strength and a high modulus (resistance against deformation) in the fiber
direction. In combination with the low density this results in an extremely high strength on weight basis,
making it one of the strongest man-made fibers.

The elongation at break is relatively low, but owing to the high strength, the energy to break is high. In
contrast to other synthetic fibers, the mechanical properties are not influenced by the presence of
water. Due to the anisotropic nature of high modulus polyethylene fibers, the modulus and strength in
transverse direction are lower than in fiber direction.

Subjecting UHMWPE fiber to long-term static loads leads to a permanent elongation called creep. The
UHMWPE fiber types from DSM have a higher creep resistance than other UHMWPE fibers enabling
their use in various static loading conditions.

Chemical resistance

UHMWPE fiber is very resistant against chemicals. Because it is produced from ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene, it does not contain any aromatic rings or any amide, hydroxylic or other chemical
groups that are susceptible to attack by aggressive agents.
Electrical propertiesPolyethylene is an insulator and has no groups with dipole character. After scouring,
the UHMWPE fiber is characterized by a high electrical resistance, low dielectric constant and a very low
dielectric loss factor.

Acoustic properties

UHMWPE fiber has a high sonic velocity. In the fiber direction, the sonic velocity is higher than in the
transverse direction. The acoustic impedance, the product of density and transverse sonic velocity, is
near that of water.

Optical properties

UHMWPE fibers are visually opaque. The fiber is invisible to an UV-light source due to the low UV
absorption coefficient in combination with no fluorescence or phosphorescence. It is also invisible for
thermal imaging devices because of its low IR absorption coefficient and high thermal conductivity. The
low reflectivity of radar waves results in a reduced visibility for radar sources. The refractive index axial
to the fiber axis differs from the transverse direction making the fiber perform birefringence.

Flammability

Fabrics and panels produced from UHMWPE fiber from DSM have passed various standards on
flammability. Like any other synthetic fiber, it will burn slowly if ignited in atmospheric conditions and it
is qualified as being self- extinguishing upon removal of the flame.

Fatigue resistance

Applications with UHMWPE fiber from DSM have a higher resistance to repeated axial loading than
other fiber types. The fibers combine high strength with high fatigue resistance, even if the loading is
partly in compression as in repeated bending of rope applications. Despite its high modulus, the fibers
are flexible and have a long flexural fatigue life. Because of the low friction coefficient and good
abrasion resistance, internal abrasion of ropes is usually negligible.

Toxicity

Polyethylene is regarded as biologically inert. The UHMWPE fibers from DSM are IARC classified 3 (not
classifiable carcinogenic to human) based upon its length weighted geometric mean diameter. This
diameter is too large to produce respirable fibers, meaning they will never reach the deeper part of the
respiratory tract and fibrogenic or carcinogenic effects on the lung will not occur.

Fungal resistance

UHMWPE fiber from DSM has excellent biological resistance. The fiber neither stimulates undesired
growth nor is sensitive to any attack by microorganisms.

Environmental properties
UHMWPE fiber is used in various outdoor applications under harsh weather conditions. In air the fiber is
stable for many years. No special precautions are necessary during processing or storage. Only strong
oxidizing media are able to attack the mechanical properties. Compared to other high tenacity fibers,
long term exposure to UV shows the lowest decrease in strength and elongation at break.

Application of Dyneema fiber:

Soft Armor

Soft armor made with Dyneema® is up to 35% lighter than aramid materials, without compromising on
protection.

Hard Armor

Hard armor with Dyneema® is up to 75% lighter than steel and other traditional materials, without
compromising on protection.

Helmets

Helmets made with Dyneema® are typically up to 25% lighter than competitive materials and offer
protection against both legacy and emerging threats.

Frag Knits

Ultimate protective performance with unmatched comfort

Apparel & Footwear

Ultralight comfort with maximum strength

Gear

Reduce weight and increase performance

Gloves & Workwear

Delivering unparalleled cut protection, comfort and dexterity for all your hand safety needs

Ropes, Lines, Slings and Chains

A proven and certified solution to replace steel wire or outperform low-cost synthetics

Air Cargo Nets

Emissions-reducing air cargo nets. Good for total cost of ownership and the environment

Aquaculture Nets

Enabling sustainable aquaculture. Keep fish in and predators out.

Trawl Ropes & Nets

Less fuel, better handling, and more safety

MARKET :

Dyneema by DSM creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences that
contribute to the quality of life. DSM's products and services are used globally in a wide range of
markets and applications, supporting a healthier, more sustainable and more enjoyable way of life. End
markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive,
coatings and paint, electrics and electronics, life protection and housing. DSM has annual sales of almost
EUR 8.8 billion and employs some 23,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in the
Netherlands, with locations on five continents. DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam