Kevlar

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Kevlar

Identifiers

CAS number

24938-64-5

Properties

Molecular formula

[-CO-C6H4-CO-NH-C6H4-NH-]n

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Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard

state (at 25 C, 100 kPa)

Infobox references

Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965,[1][2][3] 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. Currently, Kevlar has many applications, ranging from bicycle tires and racing sails to body armor because of its high tensile strength-to-weight ratio; by this measure it is 5 times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis. [2] It is also used to make modern drumheads that hold up withstanding high impact. When used as a woven material, it is suitable for mooring lines and other underwater applications. A similar fiber called Twaron with roughly the same chemical structure was developed by Akzo in the 1970s; commercial production started in 1986, and Twaron is now manufactured by Teijin.[4][5]
Contents
[hide]

1 History 2 Production 3 Structure and properties 4 Thermal properties 5 Applications

5.1 Protection

5.1.1 Cryogenics 5.1.2 Armor 5.1.3 Personal protection

5.2 Sports equipment

5.2.1 Shoes

5.3 Music

5.3.1 Audio equipment 5.3.2 Strings 5.3.3 Drumheads 5.3.4 Woodwind reeds

5.4 Other uses

5.4.1 Fire dancing 5.4.2 Frying pans 5.4.3 Rope, cable, sheath 5.4.4 Electricity generation 5.4.5 Building construction 5.4.6 Brakes 5.4.7 Expansion joints and hoses 5.4.8 Particle physics 5.4.9 Smartphones

6 Composite materials 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit]History
Poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide branded Kevlar was invented by Polish-American chemist Stephanie Kwolek while working for DuPont,[6] in anticipation of a gasoline shortage. In 1964, her group began searching for a new lightweight strong fiber to use for light but strong tires. [6] The polymers she had been working with at the time, poly-pPhenylene-terephthalate and polybenzamide,[7] formed liquid crystal while in solution, something unique to those polymers at the time.[6] The solution was "cloudy, opalescent upon being stirred, and of low viscosity" and usually was thrown away. However, Kwolek persuaded the technician, Charles Smullen, who ran the "spinneret", to test her solution, and was amazed to find that the fiber did not break, unlike nylon. Her supervisor and her laboratory director understood the significance of her discovery and a new field ofpolymer chemistry quickly arose. By 1971, modern Kevlar was introduced.[6] However, Kwolek was not very involved in developing the applications of Kevlar.[8]

[edit]Production
Kevlar is synthesized in solution from the monomers 1,4-phenylene-diamine (para-phenylenediamine) and terephthaloyl chloride in a condensation reaction yielding hydrochloric acid as a byproduct. The result has liquid-crystalline behavior, and mechanical drawing orients the polymer chains in the fiber's direction. Hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) was the solvent initially used for the polymerization, but for safety reasons, DuPont replaced it by a solution of N-methylpyrrolidone and calcium chloride. As this process was patented by Akzo (see above) in the production of Twaron, a patent war ensued.[9]

The reaction of 1,4-phenylene-diamine (para-phenylenediamine) with terephthaloyl chloride yielding kevlar.

Kevlar (poly paraphenylene terephthalamide) production is expensive because of the difficulties arising from using concentrated sulfuric acid, needed to keep the water-insoluble polymer in solution during its synthesis and spinning.[citation
needed]

Several grades of Kevlar are available: 1. Kevlar K-29 in industrial applications, such as cables, asbestos replacement, brake linings, and body/vehicle armor. 2. Kevlar K49 high modulus used in cable and rope products. 3. Kevlar K100 colored version of Kevlar 4. Kevlar K119 higher-elongation, flexible and more fatigue resistant. 5. Kevlar K129 higher tenacity for ballistic applications. 6. Kevlar AP has 15% higher tensile strength than K-29.[10] 7. Kevlar XP lighter weight resin and KM2 plus fiber combination. [11] 8. Kevlar KM2 enhanced ballistic resistance for armor applications[12] The ultraviolet component of sunlight degrades and decomposes Kevlar, a problem known as UV degradation, and so it is rarely used outdoors without protection against sunlight.[citation needed]

[edit]Structure

and properties

Molecular structure of Kevlar: bold represents a monomer unit, dashed lines indicate hydrogen bonds.

When Kevlar is spun, the resulting fiber has a tensile strength of about 3,620 MPa,[13] and a relative density of 1.44. The polymer owes its high strength to the many inter-chain bonds. These inter-molecular hydrogen bonds form between the carbonyl groups and NH centers. Additional strength is derived from aromatic stacking interactions between adjacent strands. These interactions have a greater influence on Kevlar than the van der Waals interactions and chain length that typically influence the properties of other synthetic polymers and fibers such as Dyneema. The presence of salts and certain other impurities, especially calcium, could interfere with the strand interactions and caution is used to avoid inclusion in its production. Kevlar's structure consists of relatively rigid molecules which tend to form mostly planar sheetlike structures rather like silk protein.[14]

[edit]Thermal

properties

Kevlar maintains its strength and resilience down to cryogenic temperatures (196 C); in fact, it is slightly stronger at low temperatures. At higher temperatures the tensile strength is immediately reduced by about 1020%, and after some hours the strength progressively reduces further. For example at 160 C (320 F) about 10% reduction in strength occurs after 500 hours. At 260 C (500 F) 50% strength reduction occurs after 70 hours. [15]

[edit]Applications [edit]Protection [edit]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. 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 a thermal standoff or structural support where low heat leaks are desired.

[edit]Armor

pieces of Kevlar helmet used to help absorb the blast of a grenade

Kevlar is a well-known component of personal armor such as combat helmets, ballistic face masks, and ballistic vests. The PASGT helmet and vestused 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 armoured fighting vehicles. Even Nimitz-class aircraft carriersinclude 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.[16]

[edit]Personal protection
Kevlar is used to manufacture gloves, sleeves, jackets, chaps and other articles of clothing [17] 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.[16]

[edit]Sports

equipment

Kevlar is a very popular material for racing canoes.

It is used as an inner lining for some bicycle tires to prevent punctures. In table tennis, plies of Kevlar are added to custom ply blades, or paddles, in order to increase bounce and reduce weight. It is used for motorcycle safety clothing, especially in the areas featuring padding such as shoulders and elbows. In Kyudo or Japanese archery, it may be used as an alternative to more expensive hemp for bow strings. It is one of the main materials used forparaglider suspension lines.[18] In Fencing it is used in the protective jackets, breeches, plastrons and the bib of the masks. Tennis racquets are often strung with Kevlar. It is even used in sails for high performance racing boats. It is increasingly being used in the "peto", the padded covering which protects the picadors' horses in the bullring.

[edit]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 theanterior 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, HyperDunk 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.[citation needed] and the laces for the adidas F50 adiZero Prime football boot.

[edit]Music [edit]Audio equipment

Kevlar has also been found to have useful acoustic properties for loudspeaker cones, specifically for bass and midrange drive units.[19] Additionally, Kevlar has been used as a strength member in fiber optic cables such as the ones used for audio data transmissions.[20]

[edit]Strings
Kevlar can be used as an acoustic core on bows for string instruments.[21] Kevlar's physical properties provide strength, flexibility, and stability for the bow's user. To date, the only manufacturer of this type of bow is CodaBow.[22]

[edit]Drumheads
Kevlar is sometimes used as a material on marching snare drums. It allows for an extremely high amount of tension, resulting in a cleaner sound. There is usually a resin poured onto the Kevlar to make the head airtight, and a nylon top layer to provide a flat striking surface. This is one of the primary types of marching snare drum heads. Remo's "Falam Slam" Patch is made with Kevlar and is used to reinforce bass drum heads where the beater strikes. [citation needed]

[edit]Woodwind reeds
Kevlar is used in the woodwind reeds of Fibracell. The material of these reeds is a composite of aerospace materials designed to duplicate the way nature constructs cane reed. Very stiff but sound absorbing Kevlar fibers are suspended in a lightweight resin formulation.[23]

[edit]Other

uses

[edit]Fire dancing

Fire poi on a beach in San Francisco

Wicks for fire dancing props are made of composite materials with Kevlar in them. Kevlar by itself does not absorb fuel very well, so it is blended with other materials such as fiberglass or cotton. Kevlar's high heat resistance allows the wicks to be reused many times.

[edit]Frying pans
Kevlar is sometimes used as a substitute for Teflon in some non-stick frying pans.[24]

[edit]Rope, cable, sheath

Kevlar mooring line

The fiber is used in woven rope and in cable, where the fibers are kept parallel within a polyethylene sleeve. The cables have been used in suspension bridges such as the bridge at Aberfeldy in Scotland. They have also been used to stabilize cracking concrete cooling towers by circumferential application followed by tensioning to close the cracks. Kevlar is widely used as a protective outer sheath for optical fiber cable, as its strength protects the cable from damage and kinking. When used in this application it is commonly known by the trademarked name Parafil. [citation needed]

[edit]Electricity generation
Kevlar was used by scientists at Georgia Institute of Technology as a base textile for an experiment in electricityproducing clothing. This was done by weaving zinc oxide nanowires into the fabric. If successful, the new fabric would generate about 80 milliwatts per square meter.[25]

[edit]Building construction
A retractable roof of over 60,000 square feet (5,575 square metres) of Kevlar was a key part of the design of Montreal's Olympic stadium for the 1976 Summer Olympics. It was spectacularly unsuccessful, as it was completed ten years late and replaced just ten years later in May 1998 after a series of problems. [26][27]

[edit]Brakes
The chopped fiber has been used as a replacement for asbestos in brake pads. Dust produced from asbestos brakes is toxic, while aramids are a benign substitute.[citation needed]

[edit]Expansion joints and hoses

Kevlar can be found as a reinforcing layer in rubber bellows expansion joints and rubber hoses, for use in high temperature applications, and for its high strength. It is also found as a braid layer used on the outside of hose assemblies, to add protection against sharp objects.[citation needed]

[edit]Particle physics
A thin Kevlar window has been used by the NA48 experiment at CERN to separate a vacuum vessel from a vessel at nearly atmospheric pressure, both 192 cm in diameter. The window has provided vacuum tightness combined with reasonably small amount of material (only 0.3% to 0.4% of radiation length).[citation needed]

[edit]Smartphones

The Motorola RAZR Family has a kevlar backplate, chosen over other materials such as carbon fiber due to its resilience and lack of interference with signal transmission.[28]

[edit]Composite

materials

Aramid fibers are widely used for reinforcing composite materials, often in combination with carbon fiber and glass fiber. The matrix for high performance composites is usually epoxy resin. Typical applications include monocoque bodies for F1 racing cars, helicopter rotor blades, tennis, table tennis, badminton and squash rackets, kayaks, cricket bats, and field hockey, ice hockey andlacrosse sticks.[29][30][31][32]

[edit]

Definition

Kevlar is made of an extremely strong fabric called an aramid fabric, which is chemically related to nylon. This fabric, which is already very tough and durable, is then woven in a pattern similar to tiny spiderwebs all interlocked to provide additional strength and durability. Aramid fibers like kevlar are resistant to wear, tear and heat, and have absolutely no melting point.

Types

Like any compound, kevlar comes in a variety of different types. Kevlar 29 is the fabric that is woven to make bulletproof vests. However, kevlar 49 is harder and not at all fabric-like. This material can be used to make frames for bicycles or hulls for boats.

Process

Aramid fabrics like kevlar are made through a fairly intense chemical process. Kevlar in all its varieties is made from a polymer that's spun from hot, high-solids solutions of concentrated sulfuric acid. Any nylon fabric that needs to be tough, kevlar included, should be hot-drawn. That means that while the fabric is being made, the environment of the chemical reactions should be at a high temperature. Kevlar 29, for instance, is hot drawn at a temperature of more than 400 C.

Heat

Due to kevlar's high resistance to heat and inability to melt, it's often used in fire-fighting equipment. Nomex, which is a fabric that is generally considered to be fireproof, is a variant of kevlar fabric.

Other Uses

Kevlar fabric's properties make it a high demand item. Recently kevlar has been made an integral part of shelters in areas of high tornado occurrence. Kevlar's strength and

endurance give it the ability to deflect even large items hitting a shelter and thus to protect people inside.

Read more: What Is Kevlar Fabric? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5114619_kevlarfabric.html#ixzz29XcHaV23

What Are the Properties of Kevlar?

By Kathy Mair, eHow Contributor

Bulletproof vests may be the most well-known product using Kevlar.

When you hear the word "Kevlar," you probably think of a bulletproof vest. That is one of the products created using this man-made fiber developed by DuPont in 1965. Production of belts for radial tires, cables, panels on aircraft, golf club shafts and flame-resistant clothing also involve Kevlar. Kevlar, the trademarked name for poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, is an aramid, a fiber similar in chemical composition to nylon but with very different properties. Three grades of the fiber are available.

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1. General Properties
o

Several of Kevlar's properties are consistent among the three grades. The relative density is 1.44 or slightly higher. All Kevlar is highly resistant to flame, cutting and chemicals. The three grades are low in electrical conductivity and thermal shrinkage. Kevlar's high toughness means it can absorb a lot of energy before breaking. When exposed to changes in temperature and other atmospheric conditions, Kevlar holds its dimensions well, referred to as excellent dimensional stability. The properties that vary between the three grades are strength, modulus and elongation.

High Tensile Strength

o

Kevlar has a high tensile strength at low weight, meaning it can handle a great deal of tension without tearing apart. This measurement is expressed in gigapascals (GPa). Kevlar 29's tensile strength is 3.6 GPa. Kevlar 49's strength varies between 3.6 and 4.1 GPa while Kevlar 149 measures 3.4 GPa. The strength of the interchain bonds that make up Kevlar accounts for the fiber's might.

High Modulus
o

Kevlar has a high modulus, or structural rigidity, meaning it does not flex or bend easily under applied force. Also measured in gigapascals, the tensile modulus of the three grades are: 83 GPa for Kevlar 29, 131 GPa for Kevlar 49 and 186 GPa for Kevlar 149.

Low Elongation to Break Weight

o

Expressed in a percentage of the original length of the fiber, elongation at break weight represents the length of the fiber at its breaking point. Kevlar has a low percentage. Kevlar 29's tensile elongation is four percent. Kevlar 49's elongation is 2.8 percent and Kevlar 149's is two percent.

Read more: What Are the Properties of Kevlar? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8084577_propertieskevlar.html#ixzz29Xcj8fGE

What Are the Varieties of Kevlar

By Maria Kielmas, eHow Contributor

U.S. military application of Kevlar as body armor

First developed by the Dupont Company in the 1960s, Kevlar is the strongest man-made fiber to date. Chemically, it is an aromatic polyamide fiber, or aramid, which combines high strength with a light weight. It neither melts at high temperatures nor shatters in freezing conditions.

These qualities originate in a production process that copies the way a spider secretes and spins the silk from which it makes its web. Kevlar's strength comes from a yarn made up of stacked sheets of molecules. A tight weave of this yarn produces an antiballistic material. In its various varieties, Kevlar is five times as strong as high-grade steel and twice as strong as common spider silk. The first application of Kevlar was in reinforcing rubber tires. The classification of subsequent Kevlar varieties depends on each product's uses. Such applications range from body armor to ropes and boat building.

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1. K29

Kevlar 29 is an antiballistics-grade material with applications in protective vests, gloves and helmets. Research evolved this product into the Kevlar AP variety to provide a 15 percent higher tensile strength.

K49
o

Kevlar 49 is similar in strength to K29 but with the ability to stretch half as far again as K29. Its application is as a composite to other materials in the reinforcement of marine, electrical and sporting goods. Its principal disadvantage is that it breaks down in ultraviolet light and chlorine.

K129
o

An upgraded version of Kevlar 29, this is a lightweight material that provides advanced bullet resistance in inhospitable climates. It permits more comfortable designs in bulletproof vests and helmets.

KM2
o

Kevlar KM2 is a further development in antiballistic materials that was designed to meet specific casualty reduction targets.

XP
o

Kevlar XP is the most recent advanced bullet-resistant material. It derives from introducing the KM2 variety with a thermoplastic resin to create a matrix. This provides a further 20 percent more bullet resistance than existing protection.

Read more: What Are the Varieties of Kevlar | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8351863_varietieskevlar.html#ixzz29Xd7Pq00

Kevlar Fiber
Kevlar, also known as Twaron and poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, is a synthetic fibre that is five times stronger than steel, weight for weight. Kevlar is very heat resistant and decomposes above 400 C without melting. It is usually used in bulletproof vests, in extreme sports equipment, and for composite aircraft construction. It is also used as a replacement for steel cords in car tires, in fire suits and as an asbestos replacement. Kevlar was invented by the DuPont corporation in the early 1960s, following the work of Stephanie Kwolek. Kevlar is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

Properties of Kevlar
Kevlar is a type of aramid that consists of long polymeric chains with a parallel orientation. Kevlar derives its strength from intra-molecular hydrogen bonds and phenyl stacking interactions between aromatic groups in neighboring strands. These interactions are much stronger than the van der Waals interaction found in other synthetic polymers and fibers like dyneema. The presence of salts and certain other impurities, especially calcium, would interfere with the strand interactions and has to be avoided in the production process. Kevlar consists of relatively rigid molecules, which form a planar sheet-like structure similar to silk protein. These properties result in its high mechanical strength and its remarkable heat resistance. Because it is highly unsaturated, i.e. the ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms is quite high, it has a low flammability. Kevlar molecules have polar groups accessible for hydrogen bonding. Water that enters the interior of the fiber can take the place of bonding between molecules and reduce the material's strength, while the available groups at the surface lead to good wetting properties. This is important for bonding the fibers to other types of polymer, forming a fibre reinforced plastic. This same property also makes the fibers feel more natural and "sticky" compared to non-polar polymers like polyethylene.

Production of Kevlar
Kevlar is synthesized from the monomers 1,4-phenyl-diamine (para-phenylenediamine) and terephthaloyl chloride. The result is a polymeric aromatic amide (aramid) with alternating benzene rings and amide groups. When they are produced, these polymer strands are aligned randomly. To make Kevlar, they are dissolved and spun, causing the polymer chains to orient in the direction of the fiber. Kevlar has a high price at least partly because of the difficulties caused by the use of concentrated sulfuric acid in its manufacture. These harsh conditions are needed to keep the highly insoluble polymer in The chemical synthesis of kevlar from 1,4-phenyl-diamine (para-phenylenediamine) and terephthaloyl chlorid.

Better, Stronger and Safer with Kevlar Fiber Its about resilience, strength, saving the day, and helping keep people safe from harm DuPont Kevlar.
DuPont Kevlar aramid fiber is used to make a variety of clothing, accessories, and equipment safe and cut resistant. Its lightweight and extraordinarily strong, with five times the strength of steel on an equal-weight basis. Best known for its use in ballistic and stab-resistant body armor, Kevlar brand aramid fiber has shown its own heroism in helping to save the lives of thousands of people around the world. And since its invention over 40 years ago, things have only gotten better. DuPont Kevlar continues to take on new challenges, with our scientists continuously innovating and working on a range of new opportunities through collaborations with communities, industrial manufacturers, and governments. Together were bringing the strength and durability of Kevlar to so much more. The result? Kevlar aramid fiber is now successfully used in everything from vehicles and industrial clothing to fiber optics and city roads. And were only getting started.