Kevlar
KevlarThe History of Kevlar
Kevlar is an organic fiber in the aromatic polyamide family. It has unique properties and a chemical composition that is its own, which distinguishes it from other man-made fibers. Kevlar is a combination of high strength, high modulus (resistance to extension), toughness and thermal stability. Kevlar has a wide range of uses.
In the 1960s nylon and polyester opened the door for man-made fibers. They were cutting edge fibers in their time but to achieve maximum break strength and initial modulus, the polymer molecules needed to be in an extended-chain configuration and almost perfect crystalline packing. With flexible-chain molecules, such as nylon or polyester, this could only be done by mechanically drawn in after spinning. This required chain disentanglement and orientation in the solid phase of it. Therefore the strength and modulus levels were far lower than theoretically possible values.
In 1965, scientists at Du Pont discovered a new method of producing an almost perfect polymer chain extension. The polymer poly-p-benzamide was found to form liquid crystalline solutions due to the repetitiveness of its molecular backbone. The key for the structural requirement for the backbone is para orientation on the benzene ring, which allowed for rod-like molecular structures. This technology was used when Du Pont released Kevlar aramid fiber in 1971.
What is it?
Kevlar is an aramid, a term invented as an abbreviation for aromatic polyamide. The chemical composition of Kevlar is poly para-phenyleneterephthalamide, and it is more properly known as a para-aramid. Aramids belong to the family of nylons. Common nylons, such as nylon 6, do not have very good structural properties, so the para-aramid distinction is important. 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.
The tensile modulus and strength of Kevlar 29 is roughly comparable to that of glass (S or E), yet its density is almost half that of glass. Thus, to a first approximation, Kevlar can be substituted for glass where lighter weight is desired. Kevlar 49 or 149 can cut the weight even further if the higher strength is accounted for. Of course, Kevlar's weight savings does come at a price. Kevlar is significantly more expensive than glass.
Kevlar has other advantages besides weight and strength. Like graphite, it has a slightly negative axial coefficient of thermal expansion, which means Kevlar laminates can be made thermally stable. Unlike graphite, Kevlar is very resistant to impact and abrasion damage. It can be used as a protective layer on graphite laminates. Kevlar can also be mixed with graphite in...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.