TEXTILES.ORG
Honeywell International Inc. announced its Spectra® fiber is being used in a new range of textiles designed for military and industrial applications. The fabrics will be created by Heathcoat Fabrics Ltd., a designer and manufacturer of technical textiles based in the United Kingdom. They are suitable for a range of end use applications in which the product must be strong enough to withstand high-performance situations, yet light and comfortable enough for everyday wear.
High-performance materials are in great demand across industries ranging from defense to sports to fashion. In an increasingly active and mobile world, there is a growing need for fabrics that combine strength properties such as abrasion resistance with protection properties such as cut and moisture resistance, all while staying lightweight and comfortable for wearers.
Spectra combines all of these versatile features. It is used by militaries and law enforcement personnel around the world in body armor, tactical clothing and vehicles. In industrial settings such as food preparation and manufacturing, Spectra protects workers through garments that provide some of the industry’s highest levels of slash and cut resistance.
“Spectra represents breakthrough innovation in high-performance technology,” said John Stimpson, business manager at Woven Industrial Solutions, Heathcoat Fabrics. “When we began developing textiles that could be used across military and industrial applications, we needed a fiber that had an industry-leading combination of strength, comfort and light weight. We found those properties in Spectra. Through our collaboration with Honeywell, our customers will now have access to the same groundbreaking technology that protects soldiers, police officers and factory workers. We are committed to working with industry leaders like Honeywell to create textiles that meet our customers’ diverse needs.”
Pound for pound, Spectra is 15 times stronger than steel, yet light enough to float. It is made from ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process.
“Spectra is one of the most versatile fibers in the world, capable of protecting people from a range of potential obstacles and threats while also being flexible enough to wear every day,” said Shari Litow, senior marketing manager at Packaging and Composites at Honeywell. “Honeywell’s scientists have worked extensively in R&D to ensure that Spectra is the next-generation solution for high-performance products that keep people safe, mobile and comfortable.”
Honeywell maintains an active Spectra fiber and ballistic materials research program focused on continuous improvement and development of high-performance materials. For more information about Spectra fiber, visit www.honeywell-spectra.com.