Progress in the application of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers in the civil field

The civilian sector is a broad field in which ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers can exhibit unique properties and function. Previously, due to limitations in cost and price, it was difficult to be accepted by ordinary consumers, so application development in the civilian sector was slow. In recent years, with the advancement of technology and the further decline in fiber costs (30% of the price is not as high as the highest), its application development in the civilian sector has entered a fast lane, and at the same time it has also driven the demand for fiber to a certain extent. The following is a description of its application in several major civilian areas.

1, gloves

Gloves made of UHMWPE fiber blended spandex , polyester, etc. have good wear resistance and cut resistance, and generally meet the 3-level anti-cutting requirements specified in EN 388 (ie, the cut-proof index reaches 5). Gloves woven from glass or steel wire have a cut-proof performance of up to 5 grades (cutting resistance index 20). Due to the high strength of the raw materials (generally up to 30 cN/dtex) and corrosion and wear resistance, a pair of high performance cut resistant gloves can last up to 500 pairs of regular cotton gloves. After dipping, this kind of glove with better anti-cutting performance is usually used in special industries with high protection requirements such as metal processing, glass processing, and military police. However, with the decline of prices, its popularity is getting higher and higher, no longer limited to special industries, and it has been gradually applied to any industry that needs hand protection, such as construction workers, taxi drivers, porters, fishermen, and ordinary household labor. And so on.

Generally, the multifilament yarn of 300-400 D is used for the glove wire, and the strength requirement is not high, but the linear density uniformity and the cutting resistance of the fiber are required to be high. At present, the manufacturers of such gloves in China are mainly concentrated in the Rudong area of ​​Jiangsu, such as Henghui (Nantong) Safety Protection Products Co., Ltd., Huihong (Nantong) Safety Products Co., Ltd., Nantong Johnson & Johnson Safety Protection Technology Co., Ltd., etc.

2, home textile

Home textiles are an emerging application area of ​​UHMWPE fiber in the past two years. The woven fabric of the fiber has a distinctly cool feeling and is durable. Fabrics can be used to make curtains, seat covers, mattresses, mats, quilts, tablecloths, tents, etc. The curtains and tents made with it have high tensile strength and can withstand strong winds. In particular, bedding made with it can have a very good cooling effect in summer, and the body temperature during contact can be about 5 ° C lower than the ambient temperature. At present, fiber manufacturers can supply fibers of various colors such as white, black, green and blue, which are used to produce fabrics and products of various colors to meet the needs of market differentiation.

The UHMWPE fiber used for the production of cloth is generally a multifilament with a linear density of 50 to 350 D, and requires no phosphor addition, no solvent residue, and uniform fineness. At present, home textile manufacturers in Jiangsu and Zhejiang have entered the market, and the products are basically exported to Europe and the United States, and the profits are considerable.

3, clothing and apparel

The reduction in cost and price makes UHMWPE fiber no longer limited to the preparation of body armor, but also can be used to make ordinary clothes that are acceptable to the general public, such as short-sleeved T-shirts, pants, and mountaineering suits. Foreign manufacturers have used DSM (Diesman) UHMWPE fiber dyneema to make denim , its abrasion resistance and tear strength are reported to be 7 times that of ordinary denim. Domestic Jiangsu Jiujiujiu Technology Co., Ltd. has developed a complete set of summer clothing, including short-sleeved T-shirts, long-sleeved tops, pants, etc., using its self-produced low-residue UHMWPE fiber blended with polyester and cotton. It meets the requirements of aesthetics, and has both wear resistance and cut resistance. It does not absorb sweat, does not smell, and is cool and comfortable to wear (commonly known as "air conditioner").

Dyneema® fiber denim fabric

The UHMWPE fiber used for the production of clothing is generally a multifilament with a lower linear density of 100 or 200 D, and the fiber content accounts for about 80%. Apparel products require a high level of residual amount and linear density uniformity of harmful substances in the fiber. Once the application is accepted by the market, the demand for fiber will be very large.