Kevlar is a registered trademark of para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, it was a very strong material first used commercially in 1970 as a replacement for steel in racing tires. Usually it is turned into ropes or fabric sheets that can be used as or as an ingredient in composite material components.

Kevlar is made ​​of very strong material called aramid fabric which is chemically related to nylon. This substance, which is already very strong and durable, which is then woven in a pattern similar small cobwebs all connected for extra strength and durability. Aramid fibers such as Kevlar, which wear, tear and heat, rather than the melting point resists.

Kevlar fabric has other benefits besides weight and strength. Such as graphite, has a slightly negative axial coefficient of thermal expansion, which means that Kevlar laminate can be thermally stable. Unlike graphite, Kevlar is very resistant to impact and abrasion damage. It can be used as protective coatings on graphite laminate. Kevlar can be mixed with graphite in hybrid materials to resist damage, an increase in serious effort to prevent catastrophic failure.

Like all good things, Kevlar also has some disadvantages. The fibers absorb moisture, so Kevlar composites are more sensitive to the environment than glass or graphite composites. Although strength and high modulus, relatively poor nature of the press. Finally, Kevlar is also very difficult to reduce. It is a special need for scissors or a dry cloth prepreg and a special drill bit for drilling cured Read the rest of this entry »