Kevlar - The Wonder Fiber
Kevlar - The Miracle Fiber
You've heard of Kevlar before. It's the material used in bullet
proof vests. To date, 3,000 officer's lives have been saved.
Here, we'll discuss what makes Kevlar so incredibly strong and
its applications.
What you can take away from this article:
* The basics of the synthetic Kevlar
* The molecular secret behind Kevlar's strength
* Kevlar's modern day applications
Above, I refer to Kevlar as a synthetic. This means that nowhere
in nature does Kevlar occur; it is man-made. Kevlar was
discovered in 1965 by DuPont. Before this, scientists had known
of the strength of polymers, but had been unable to produce
them. By using 'light elements,' DuPont was able to create a
very strong polymer. Using these 'light elements,' Kevlar is
able to offer its services at an incredibly light weight.
Kevlar makes use of a poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide as one
of its ingredients. This allows for amazing heat resistance. In
fact, Kevlar can protect from heat exposure of up to 800 degrees
Fahrenheit. As you might imagine, this is quite helpful when
working in a foundry.
* The molecular secret behind the strength of Kevlar
First off, think of the molecular chains that make up Kevlar as
spaghetti. Now, which is going to be stronger, a plate of cooked
noodles or a box of uncooked noodles? That's right, the box of
sturdy (relatively speaking, of course) uncooked pasta is much
stronger because all of the chains lay side by side, adding
layers of strength. It's imperative for Kevlar's molecular
chains to be fully extended and aligned perfectly to achieve its
impressive stiffness and strength. FYI: The arrangement in which
the molecular chain is placed is known as a crystalline
structure.
So, we know that when the molecular chains are laid out like
long strands of stiff, uncooked spaghetti, their strength is
fantastic; but there's a problem. If you turn a box of uncooked
spaghetti upside down, all the noodles fall out! Well, the
Kevlar chains have a force (most easily related to magnetism)
holding them together called hydrogen bonds. These electrostatic
forces between the molecules hole the chains together like super
glue.
* Modern day applications of Kevlar
Now that we're through all the technical jargon, let's talk
about Kevlar as it relates to us today. Kevlar is popular in
underwater constructions, as once it's submerged, Kevlar is 20
times stronger than steel! In the air, it's 5 times stronger
than steel (on an equal weight basis). And you can thank Kevlar
for windsurfing sails that easily withstand wind force of 60
mph. Certainly you remember that Kevlar is also a key ingredient
in bullet proof vests!
Not only is this wonder-material used for saving lives, it's
also used for saving fingers. Kevlar is knitted into gloves to
make a fine mesh that is extremely cut, burn and rip resistant.
Kevlar gloves are available in a variety of shapes and
thicknesses. They provide dexterity, comfort and durability all
at once. They work well in many situations. For lighter work,
you could try an extra fine knit Kevlar glove. These are great
for everyday environments requiring protection from small blades
or sharp objects.
As your work environment gets more complex, so must your
protection. If your work environment is littered with brambles
and sharp edges, look to a set of terry cloth Kevlar knit
gloves. Here you'll get double protection. First off, the tough
Kevlar material holds it's own, while the small 'terry loops'
help prevent snags.
Still don't feel safe enough? You can find another level of
safety with Kevlar sleeves. These tough sleeves protect your
arms from cuts, burns and bruises. Protective sleeves are great
for environments with sparks. They come in very handy for
foundry workers. Combined with a set of Kevlar hot mill flame
retardant bandtops, you can rest assured your hands are safe.
For the most extreme environments, Kevlar is simply a must. Its
functions reach much further than gloves and sleeves, but when
you're working with dangerous applications, hand protection is
paramount. To learn more about Kevlar gloves and sleeves, go to
http://www.unitedglove.com.