HEERLEN, The Netherlands — May 12, 2011 — The Techtextil international trade fair for technical
textiles and nonwovens will be held in Frankfurt, Germany, from May 24-26 2011. Visitors to the DSM
Dyneema booth (Hall 4.1 stand C71) will learn how exploiting the special properties of Dyneema®
fiber, the Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber from DSM, is resulting in
innovation for a wide range of high performance materials.
Key applications in the textile industry include:
Draggin Jeans uses Dyneema® fibers in its mix to make an innovative material blend for jeans
that are as tough as leather, and able to withstand rider/ground abrasion during a motorbike fall.
Carrying the independently awarded “red dot” seal of quality, this is the only jeans design of its
type to receive the CE mark (Conformité Européenne or European Conformity).
Amann Goup offers a range of performance threads for automotive and technical textiles. The
company’s Xtreme-tech sewing thread made with Dyneema® fiber combines maximum strength with minimum
weight. Xtreme-tech is ideal for all applications with extremely high safety requirements — such as
sailing, haulage ropes, paragliders, fishing nets, aerospace, load restraint/lifting systems and
protective clothing. It is also suitable for sports gear such as climbing equipment, ropes, and
harnesses.
Sustainability
Dyneema® fibers also make a difference in other industry sectors, both in terms of
performance and in terms of sustainability. A clear example is the ultra-strong air container panel
that is helping individual airlines to cut carbon emissions. Made from composites of Dyneema® and
DSM’s Aeronite resin, these RP10 container panels reduce the carbon footprint by an estimated
28,000 tons annually — the equivalent of taking more than 8,500 cars off the road. Manufactured by
DoKasch GmbH, they are designed to provide maximum strength at minimum weight. In fact, they are
three times more impact resistant and nearly 50% lighter than standard aluminium alternatives.
UHMWPE fiber from DSM Dyneema is now widely employed in heavy duty lifting and towing ropes
wherever they are required, due to its ideal combination of high strength, light weight and
excellent durability. In this context it is now a vital component in SkySails towing kite
technology. As the world’s most powerful and effective wind propulsion system for cargo ships, a
320 m2 SkySails system can produce a tractive force in the towing rope of more than 320 kilonewton
(kN) — a force greater than the thrust of both engines on an Airbus A321.
In a seaborne application, a study recently completed among the commercial fishing community
has yielded clear proof that nets made with Dyneema® yield major cost savings for fishermen. It
enables fishermen the use of thinner twines and ropes that are less bulky than more traditional
materials, without sacrificing performance. The lower weight and smaller diameter of the equipment
result in lower drag in the water, enabling fishermen to make significant fuel savings.
“Sustainability is a key driver for our innovation efforts” says Yvonne Engelen, VP
Innovation at DSM Dyneema. “We are continually asking ourselves how we can ‘brighten’ the life of
our clients and their customers, while reducing our environmental impact and contributing to
sustainable business and manufacturing processes.”
In fact, for DSM Dyneema innovation is one of the strategic drivers, and ‘open innovation’ is
an integral part of that. For DSM innovation involves continually questioning and probing accepted
methods and assumptions and has been part of the fabric of the company from the beginning,
resulting in many breakthrough developments.
“With more than 1,000 customers developing new uses for UHMWPE fiber from DSM Dyneema every
day, there’s a good chance we can connect you with a local supplier for many common applications,”
says Yvonne Engelen. “Please visit us at Techtextil to discuss how our Open Innovation and
commitment to sustainability can help your products and processes.”
Posted on May 19, 2011
Source: DSM Dyneema
