UHMWPE fiber composites, may gradually replace aramid as the first choice in ballistic protection!
To introduce a new material, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, which is called the world's three high-tech fibers together with carbon fiber and aramid fiber. In view of its light weight, high strength and high specific energy absorption, it has gradually replaced aramid fiber as the fiber of choice in the field of individual ballistic protection.
To introduce a new material, Chian Link Fence, which is called the world's three high-tech fibers together with carbon fiber and aramid fiber. In view of its light weight, high strength and high specific energy absorption, it has gradually replaced aramid fiber as the fiber of choice in the field of individual ballistic protection.
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber (UHMWPE fiber) refers to polyethylene fiber with molecular weight over 1 million. the molecular structure of UHMWPE is simple, highly ordered, without branched chain, and the molecular chain does not contain polar functional groups, and the structure is extremely dense after stretching, which makes the material have the advantages of light weight, high strength, good flexibility and good chemical stability.
The specific strength of UHMWPE fiber is more than ten times that of steel wire with the same cross-section, and more than three times that of carbon fiber and aramid 1414, and the specific impact absorption energy of UHMWPE fiber is 1.8, 2.6 and 3 times that of carbon fiber, aramid and general glass fiber composites, respectively, and the ballistic resistance is 2.6 times higher than that of aramid armor structure, which is the main material for manufacturing bulletproof vests at present.
Development history
In 1957, United Chemical Company firstly prepared UHMWPE
In 1979, DSM of the Netherlands applied for the first invention patent on UHMWPE fiber, then DSM built 5 sets of UHMWPE fiber production units and realized industrial scale production, and registered the trade name Dyneema
In 1983, Mitsui Petrochemical Company of Japan adopted gel extrusion super stretching method, using paraffin as solvent to produce UHMWPE fiber, with the trade name of Tekmilon
In 1986, AlliedSignal of the United States purchased the Dutch patent, developed its own production process and filed a patent, and achieved commercial production in 1988.
In 1999, China achieved industrialized production of UHMWPE fiber
In 2008, Yizheng Chemical Fiber built the first industrialized production line of dry spinning UHMWPE fiber in China
In 2016, the annual output of UHMWPE fiber in China exceeded 9,000 tons
In 2019, the global UHMWPE fiber production capacity will reach 64,600 tons/year, of which China's production capacity will be about 41,000 tons/year, accounting for more than 60% of the total global production capacity
Current situation of the industry
1. UHMWPE fiber is a scarce substance worldwide, and there is a large capacity gap at present. In terms of market demand, the demand level of UHMWPE fiber is above 100,000 tons/year in the next few years, with huge market potential.
2. UHMWPE fiber is one of the materials that are the focus of technological innovation and national development in China. The large-scale production in China is becoming more and more mature, but there are still problems such as high production cost and weak technical innovation ability, and the product application scope is limited to the traditional safety protection and rope industry, and it is urgent to cultivate and develop new application fields to enhance the international market competitiveness of the products.
