The Gordon Research Conference on Fiber Science Held in Colby Sawyer College on July 9-14, 1995.
Abstract
The fact that high strength polyethylene fibers do not give considerably enhanced ballistics protection relative to aramid is not understood and should be studied further. Substantial advancements in the ability to analyze the microstructure of fibers by diffraction and scattering of x-rays and neutrons are in place in various laboratories. These are being ignored, or only slowly implemented, in many places, including first rate USA research laboratories. Two laboratories, which are producing (potentially) high performance fibers of conventional polymers, are at Nara University and Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. Electrospinning offers fantastic opportunities to produce low denier, high performance fibers for specialized, or highly tailored applications. Recommendations: Study the mechanism of ballistics protection by aramid and polyethylene fibers and understand why polyethylene is not approx. 2x better than aramid. In particular remove the concept of "low melting point" from the realm of speculation. While the words used to describe fiber structure as determined from x-ray analysis may be imprecise, the modern data and analytical methods should be required in all significant x-ray analysis of fiber microstructure. Expect the (Japanese) laboratories of Masaru Matsuo and T. Kikutani to develop some substantially and significantly improved fibers from currently available polymers. These laboratories are worth keeping contact with. jg p.4 and 5
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA300315
Entities
People
- Hawthorne A. Davis
Organizations
- North Carolina State University