1.

History of the fabric and its development

INTRODUCTION

All fibers used in polymer engineering composites can be divided into two categories,
namely synthetic fibers and natural fibers. Synthetic fibers are the most common. Although there
are many types of synthetic fibers, glass, carbon and aramid fibers represent the most important.
Kevlar is an aromatic polyamide or aramid fiber introduced in early 1970s by DuPont. It
was the first organic fiber with sufficient tensile strength and modulus to be used in advanced
composites. It has approximately five times the tensile strength of steel with a corresponding
tensile modulus. Originally developed as a replacement for steel in radial tires, Kevlar is now
used in a wide range of applications. It is a trade name of aramid fiber.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission gives a good definition of an aramid fiber as "a
manufactured fiber in which the fiber forming substance is a long chain synthetic polyamide in
which at least 85% of the amide linkages are attached directly to two aromatic rings"

History and Development of Kevlar

Kevlar's history goes back to 1948, when DuPont, with its invention of nylon behind it,
made a decision to pursue work in a broad area of fibers with unusually high thermal, elasticity,
and strength properties. The possibility of making polyaramid plastic was hypothesized in 1939.
It was synthesized and identified at DuPont in 1960, but polyaramid fiber could not be produced
until 1965, when Stephanie Kwolek, a chemist at DuPont, discovered a practical solvent. At
about the same time, a team at Akzo, Inc., a multinational firm headquartered in Holland,
independently discovered a practical solvent and applied for a patent for the manufacture of
polyaramid fiber, which DuPont named Kevlar and Akzo later (1984) named Twaron. DuPont
contested the patent. A consent decree of the International Trade Commission settled the dispute;
terms of the settlement included cross-licensing but barred Akzo from marketing Twaron in the
United States until late 1990.

Kevlar 29, introduced in the early 1970s, was the first generation of bullet resistant fibers
developed by DuPont and helped to make the production of flexible, concealable body armor
practical for the first time. In 1988, DuPont introduced the second generation of Kevlar fiber,
known as Kevlar 129. According to DuPont, this fabric offered increased ballistic protection
capabilities against high energy rounds such as the 9mm FMJ. In 1995, Kevlar Correctional was
introduced, which provides puncture resistant technology to both law enforcement and
correctional officers against puncture type threats.
The newest addition to the Kevlar line is Kevlar Protera, which became available in 1996 by
DuPont. DuPont contends that the Kevlar Protera is a high-performance fabric that allows lighter
weight, more flexibility, and greater ballistic protection in a vest design due to the molecular
structure of the fiber. Its tensile strength and energy-absorbing capabilities have been increased
by the development of a new spinning process.
Before Kevlar was used for body armor, it was used as a substitute for steel in the manufacture
of radial tires, including those designed for police cars. Kevlar is a registered trademark of
DuPont de Nemours and Co., Inc. Twaron is a registered trademark of Akzo, Inc.

2. A full technical description of the fabric

Composition of Kevlar:

The chemical composition of Kevlar is poly para-phenyleneterephthalamide (PPD-T) and it is

more properly known as a para-aramid. It is oriented para-substituted aromatic units. Aramids
belong to the family of nylons. Common nylons, such as nylon 6,6 do not have very good
structural properties, so the para-aramid distinction is important. Aramid fibers like Nomex or
Kevlar, however, are ring compounds based on the structure of benzene as opposed to linear
compounds used to make nylon. The aramid ring gives Kevlar thermal stability, while the para
structure gives it high strength and modulus. Like nylons, Kevlar filaments are made by
extruding the precursor through a spinneret. The rod form of the para-aramid molecules and the
extrusion process make Kevlar fibers anisotropic--they are stronger and stiffer in the axial
direction than in the transverse direction. In comparison, graphite fibers are also anisotropic, but
glass fibers are isotropic.

It is made from a condensation reaction of para-phenylene diamine and terephthaloyl (PPD-T)

chloride. The resultant aromatic polyamide contains aromatic and amide groups which makes
them rigid rod like polymers. The rigid rod like structure results in a high glass transition
temperature and poor solubility, which makes fabrication of these polymers, by conventional
drawing techniques, difficult Instead, they are melt spun from liquid crystalline polymer
solutions as described later. The Kevlar fiber is an array of molecules oriented parallel to each
other like a package of uncooked spaghetti. This orderly, untangled arrangement of molecules is
described as a crystalline structure. Crystallinity is obtained by a manufacturing process known
as spinning, which involves extruding the molten polymer solution through small holes.
When PPD-T solutions are extruded through a spinneret and drawn through an air gap during
fiber manufacture, the liquid crystalline domains can orient and align in the flow direction.
Kevlar can acquire a high degree of alignment of long, straight polymer chains parallel to the
fiber axis. The structure exhibits anisotropic properties, with higher strength and modulus in the
fiber longitudinal direction than in the axial direction. The extruded material also possesses a
febrile structure. This structure results in poor shear and compression properties for aramid
composites. Hydrogen bonds form between the polar amide groups on adjacent chains and they
hold the individual Kevlar polymer chains together.

Grades of Kevlar

There are three grades of Kevlar available: Kevlar 29, Kevlar 49, and Kevlar 149. Tensile
modulus is a function of molecular orientation. As a spun fiber, Kevlar 29 (a high toughness
variant) has a modulus of 62 GPa (9 Mpsi). Heat treatment under tension increases crystalline
orientation. The resulting fiber, Kevlar 49, has a modulus of 131 GPa.

Mechanical Properties of Kevlar:

The tensile strength of Kevlar ranges from about 2.6 to 4.1 GPa. This is more than twice that for
conventional fibers like Nylon 66. Tensile failure initiates at the fibril ends and propagates via

shear failure between the fibrils. The table below shows the differences in material properties
among the different grades. Kevlar cloth is most likely to be Kevlar 49.
Density

Grade

g/cm^3

Tensile

Tensile

Tensile

Modulus

Strength

Elongation

GPa

GPa

29

1.44

83

3.6

4.0

49

1.44

131

3.6--4.1

2.8

149

1.47

186

3.4

2.0

General Features of Kevlar Fabric

High tensile strength at low weight

Low elongation to break

High modulus (structural rigidity)

Low electrical conductivity

High chemical resistance

Low thermal shrinkage

High toughness (work-to-break)

Excellent dimensional stability

High cut resistance

Flame resistant, self-extinguishing

3. Fashion applications of the fabric

Protection
Cryogenics

Kevlar is often used in the field of cryogenics for its low thermal conductivity and high strength
relative to other materials for suspension purposes. It is most often used to suspend a

paramagnetic salt enclosure from a superconducting magnet mandrel in order to minimize any
heat leaks to the paramagnetic material. It is also used as a thermal standoff or structural support
where low heat leaks are desired.

Armor
Kevlar is a well-known component of personal armor such as combat helmets, ballistic face
masks, and ballistic vests. The PASGT helmet and vest used by United States military forces
since the 1980s both have Kevlar as a key component, as do their replacements. Other military
uses include bulletproof facemasks used by sentries and spall liners used to protect the crews of
armored fighting vehicles. Even Nimitz-class aircraft carriers include Kevlar armor around vital
spaces. Related civilian applications include Emergency Service's protection gear if it involves
high heat (e.g., tackling a fire), and Kevlar body armor such as vests for police officers, security,
and SWAT

Personal protection
Kevlar is used to manufacture gloves, sleeves, jackets, chaps and other articles of clothing
designed to protect users from cuts, abrasions and heat. Kevlar based protective gear is often
considerably lighter and thinner than equivalent gear made of more traditional materials.

Shoes
With advancements in technology, Nike used Kevlar in shoes for the first time. It launched the
Elite II Series, with enhancements to its earlier version of basketball shoes by using Kevlar in the
anterior as well as the shoe laces. This was done to decrease the elasticity of the tip of the shoe in
contrast to nylon used conventionally as Kevlar expanded by about 1% against nylon which
expanded by about 30%. Shoes in this range included LeBron, Hyper Dunk and Zoom Kobe VII.
However these shoes were launched at a price range much higher than average cost of basketball
shoes.
It was also used as speed control patches for certain Soap Shoes models and the laces for the
adidas F50 adiZero Prime football boot.

4. The impact it has had on the fashion industry

Advantages of Kevlar

Kevlar has a range of advantages, not only its relative low weight and high
strength:

Laminated Kevlar is very stable at high temperatures and it is impact and

scratch resistant.

Kevlar is often combined with other materials, to produce textiles with

enhanced properties, such as fire resistant clothing for the Fire Services

Kevlar is used in some quality walking boots because it is waterproof (when

combined with other materials as a composite) but also breathable, ensuring
comfort

When Kevlar is used as a composite with rubber, it retains its flexibility. This
composite material is used in the manufacture of Formula One Racing Car petrol
tanks. The tank holds the petrol safely, even in the event of an accident. The
material cannot be pieced by other car components, even during a high speed
impact. The petrol does not escape / leak, avoiding fire and explosions. The
lightweight tank, adds to the reduced weight of the entire vehicle, leading to a
faster racing car

Disadvantages of Kevlar

Kevlar textiles tend to absorb moisture. It must be combined with moisture

resistant materials, if there is a need for moisture resistance as a physical property.
Consequently, very few general cloths are manufactured with Kevlar.

Kevlar reacts well under a tensile force (stretching force) but badly under a
compressive force. It is not used where compression resistance is needed, such as
bridge building or the structure of a building.

It is difficult to cut and shape, unless through the use of special tools and
equipment. Laminated Kevlar is also difficult to machine and consequently
special cutters are required. Special cutting techniques were developed to enable
the manufacture of Kevlar parts, for the Eurofighter.

Kevlar reacts badly to UV light (sunlight) unless it is protected / hidden from

direct sunlight.

Kevlar suffers some corrosion if exposed to chlorine.

Bibliography
Dupont. (n.d.). Retrieved from Kevlar Fibres: http://www.dupont.com/products-andservices/fabrics-fibers-nonwovens/fibers/brands/kevlar/products/dupont-kevlar-fiber.html
Dupont. (2014, December). Retrieved from http://www.dupont.com/products-andservices/fabrics-fibers-nonwovens/fibers/brands/kevlar.html
Kwolek, S. (2014, december). About.com. Retrieved from
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blkevlar.htm
V.Ryan. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.technologystudent.com/joints/kevlar2.html
Wikipedia. (2014, december). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevlar