Technical Textiles

From lifting ropes that lower critical equipment to the sea floor, to cut-resistant Gloves and high-performance fishing line, Spectra^® fiber has been providing light weight, dependable strength in demanding applications for more than 20 years. Spectra fiber is one of the world’s strongest and lightest fibers available today. Spectra fiber is a bright white polyethylene fiber that is produced using a patented gel- spinning process. Pound-for-pound, it is 15 times stronger than steel, more durable than polyester and has a specific strength that is 40 percent greater than aramid fiber. Polyethylene is a remarkably durable plastic, and scientists at Honeywell have captured the tremendous natural strength in the molecular backbone of this everyday plastic to create one of the world's strongest and lightest fibers. The gel-spinning process and subsequent drawing steps allow Spectra fiber to have a much higher melting temperature (150°C or 300°F) than standard polyethylene.

With outstanding toughness and extraordinary visco-elastic properties, Spectra fiber can withstand high-load strain-rate velocities. Light enough to float, it also exhibits high resistance to chemicals, water, and ultraviolet light. It has excellent vibration damping, flex fatigue and internal fiber-friction characteristics, and Spectra fiber's low dielectric constant makes it virtually transparent to radar.

Spectra fiber is used in numerous high-performance applications, including police and military ballistic-resistant vests, helmets and armored vehicles, as well as sailcloth, fishing lines, marine cordage, lifting slings, and cut-resistant gloves and apparel. Honeywell also converts Spectra fiber into the Spectra Shield family of specialty composites for armor and other applications.

	Industries and Applications Industries and applications for Spectra^®, the fiber that is pound-for-pound 15 times stronger than steel
	Armor Recent terrorist attacks around the world have increased the need for personal and vehicular protection for police, armed forces and high-level officials. Spectra Shield^® and Gold Shield^® materials for armor are some of the most technologically advanced available and the need for them is greater than ever.
	Rope and Cordage Strength, flexibility and toughness are of primary importance in rope and cordage materials, whether they are used for heavy marine and offshore applications or yachting, boating or recreational climbing. Rope and cordage products made from Spectra^® fiber provide exceptional performance - even under the most challenging circumstances.
	Cut Protection Cut protection is a crucial part of workplace safety for those in the food-handling, automotive assembly, sheet metal and glass industries. High-performance Spectra^® fiber provides state-of-the-art cut protection, without sacrificing dexterity or comfort.
	Fishing Line With remarkable strength and very little elasticity, premium fishing lines made from Spectra^® fiber helps anglers feel everything at the end of their line. Outstanding handling characteristics, along with excellent chemical and UV resistance, have made Spectra^® fiber-based fishing lines popular for both commercial and recreational applications.
	Hurricane Protection High strength Honeywell Spectra^® fiber now serves as a key component in novel hurricane-resistant protective panels for windows and doors. The fiber allows the panels to resist high winds and resulting debris, while still only weighing two and a half ounces per square foot.
	Specialty Applications Spectra^® fiber is used in specialized sewing thread, tethers used in space by NASA and high-tech sailcloth composites for America's Cup sailboats. It is a rip-stop reinforcement for luggage fabric, as well as a yarn used in parachute cords, kite strings, dental floss, mammoth commercial fishing nets and dozens of other applications where the fiber's great strength, light weight and endurance are critical.