Hexcel is the largest weaver of Aramid and other high performance yarns in the U.S. Hexcel has over 25 years of experience weaving high performance yarns. Our ballistic protection customers manufacture civilian and military body armor using Hexcel fabrics woven from Kevlar ®, Spectra ®, Twaron ® and other high performance brand fibers. These cutting-edge performance fabrics offer unmatched resistance to bullets, fragments, cuts, stabs and abrasions, while offering lightweight strength and comfort.

Civilian police forces that are exposed to relatively high-mass/low-velocity bullets will use a different fiber and different fabric weave designs than military applications which encounter relatively low-mass/high-velocity bullets and fragments. Hexcel’s years of experience and research in this field have made us knowledgeable about effective weave designs for the threats needed for protective clothing products. Lightweight, durable and comfortable material is vital in this industry to make sure that the users will not hesitate to wear soft body armor for protection. The high strength of fabrics woven from Kevlar ®, Spectra ® and Twaron ® brand fibers provides phenomenal ballistic and blunt trauma protection which has saved thousands of lives. Hexcel’s ballistic team is committed to finding the correct solution to solve your ballistic fabric needs.

Many of these high performance fabrics are now being used for industrial protection. Since 9/11, we have seen an increased need for blast resistance fabrics for government buildings, state buildings, hospitals and industrial employee protection. Let us know how our fabric can help you!

Kevlar ® para-aramid fiber displays excellent dimensional stability over a wide range of temperatures for prolonged periods. Even at temperatures of 320° F (160° C) Kevlar ® shows essentially no embrittlement or strength loss. Kevlar ® fiber also has excellent dimensional stability with a slightly negative coefficient of thermal expansion (-1.1 X 10-6/° F or -0.2 X 10-6/° C). Kevlar ® fiber does not melt or support combustion but will start to decompose at about 800° F (427° C).

Kevlar ® 29, 129 are tough yarns which are better suited for ballistic protection and are used both in soft body armor applications such as personal protection ballistic vests, and as robust reinforcements for a variety of hard armor applications, racing helmets, ballistic helmets, spall panels, ballistic blankets and electronic housing protection.

Kevlar ® KM2, made in 400 denier, 600 denier and 850 denier, is a high performance product variant specially designed for use in Military ballistic applications. These yarns are used in both soft and hard military products to defeat multiple threats.

Kevlar ® A-200 & LT are new yarns that are used in the development of the lightest weight body armor products on the market today. These new yarns are mainly used in the civilian police products to provide comfortable, high level protection.

Kevlar ® K-159 was developed for correctional institutions as the first stab resistant fabric. This new Kevlar ® fiber, which is 4 times thinner than typical ballistic yarns, is used for an ultra-dense weave but still maintains a strength value that is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis.

Kevlar ® XLT is one of the newest yarns developed for body armor. This new yarn is available to licensed companies through Du Pont.

Spectra ® 900 is the original extended-chain ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber was introduced by Honeywell’s Spectra ® Performance Materials in 1985. Common to all Spectra ® fibers, with a high strength-to-weight ration, Spectra ® 900 is pound for pound 8 times stronger than steel. It is light enough to float, has superior abrasion-resistance qualities, and is resistant to chemicals, water and UV. Applications include safety products, such as cut-protective gloves and abrasion resistant materials. Because of the hydrophobic character, it is an excellent product for marine applications. See our web page for fabric styles made with Spectra ® 900 yarns.

Spectra ® 1000, the second generation family of Spectra ® 1000 fibers was developed to provide higher strength, higher modulus and improved creep properties as well as fibers with enhanced ballistic performance in armor. As an extended chain, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, Spectra ® 1000 fibers have a high strength-to-weight ratio and is, pound for pound, 10 times stronger than steel. It is light enough to float, has superior abrasion resistance and has excellent resistance to chemicals, water and UV. Applications include ballistic armor, cut-protective gloves and safety products. See our web page for styles made with Spectra ® 1000 yarns.

Twaron ® is a high performance para-aramid fiber supplied by Teijin Twaron ®. In the last 10 years of Twaron ® being in the marketplace, many improvements in properties have been made. Developments of finer filaments, uniquely combined with higher tensile properties, resulted in the patented Twaron ® Microfilament and have led to the newest types of Twaron ® yarns exceptionally well adapted to the specific demands of hard and soft ballistic applications.

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