High Performance Fibers
What are High Performance Fibers?
Fibers that are engineered for innovative and diversified high tech applications
because of their high strength, temperature stability and chemical resistance.
Common Qualities of HPF
1. High strength
2. Temperature resistance
3. Good flexibility
4. Light weight
5. Fine diameter
6. Durable
7. Chemical resistance
Properties
1) HPF are all polymers with different dimensionality of bonding.
(Axial bonding is always strong)
2) No amorphous regions in HPF, hence stronger forces of attraction between
polymer chains, higher density and high chemical resistance
3) strength and stiffness is due to crystalline polymer structure
Difference between Conventional and HPF
1. Conventional fibers can be used for a person’s daily use because they give
comfort to the human body. However, HPF are used to protect the body.
2. Unlike conventional fibers, HPF are capable of industrial applications.
3. HPF have properties like high tensile strength, high abrasion resistance and
high temperature resistance.
Aramid Fibers (Aromatic Polyamides)
General Properties
1) great strength
2) less elasticity
3) resistant to fuels, lubricants and flame
4) thermal and electric insulation
5) poor compression
6) resistant to UV rays
Meta Aramid
Nomex (Dupont)
Uses: Fire resistant fabric, circuit board laminations
Teijinconex
Uses: Thermal barriers, sporting goods, ballistic applications, friction material
Para Aramid
Kevlar (Dupont)
Uses: Ballistic application, ropes and cables
Technora
Uses: Sporting goods, cushion material
Fluorocarbon Fibers (PTFE)
General Properties:
1) Water and oil repellent
2) Harmful to the environment
3) Breathable
4) Insulator
Fluorocarbon Fibers
Teflon
Uses: bearings, gears, gaskets, conveyor belts
Toyoflon
Uses: windproof raincoats, industrial filters, gaskets, electrical insulation
PPS Fiber (Polyphenylene sulfide)
General Properties:
1) flame retardance
2) chemical resistance
3) hydrolysis resistance
4) high strength
PPS Fiber
Ryton
Use: Hot gas filters
Procon
Uses: liquid filtration,
laundry materials
Toray
Use: Rubber industry
Melamine
General Properties:
1) flame retardant
2) low thermal conductivity
3) Non toxic
Basofil
Uses: firefighting apparel, electrical papers, filtration medium, protective clothing
PBO (Polybenzoxazole)
Zylon
Uses: sewing thread, ropes, cables, sporting goods
and thermal shields
PBI (Polybenzimidazole)
PBI
Use: Fire Blocking
PI (Polyimide)
P-84
Uses: Thermal insulation, safety and
protective clothing
Carbon Fibers
General Properties
1) Lightweight (alternative to conventional metals)
2) Great strength
3) Highly durable
4) great elasticity
5) thermal and chemical stability
6) semiconductor
7) low shock resistance
8) high cost
Carbon Fibers
Lastan
Uses: welding blankets, aluminized fabrics
Pan Base
Uses: Aircraft and aerospace, sports cars
Pitch Base
Uses: Reinforcement composites, rubbers
and filtration
Glass Fiber
General properties:
1) lightweight
2) extremely strong (less than carbon fiber)
3) Less stiff
4) less brittle
5) raw material is less expensive
6) can easily be molded
Glass Fiber
E-Glass
(Electric insulator)
Uses: Aircraft, aerospace, cushion material and thermal insulation
AR- Glass
(Alkali resistant)
Uses: reinforcing cement, automotive parts
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Spectra
Uses: Marine ropes, cordage, safety and protection products
Dyneema
Uses: Soft and semi rigid body armor, reinforcement of composites, sports
applications.
