1. ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber offers extremely high strength and modulus together with good chemical stability, corrosion resistance and anti-corrosion performance. Thanks to these properties, UHMWPE fiber and its reinforced composites have been widely used in aerospace, aviation, marine, communications, sports and other industrial fields. Since the 21st century in particular, UHMWPE fiber has, because of its unique properties, been widely adopted in military and police ballistic protection, becoming the mainstream material replacing traditional steel structures in that field. According to statistics, around 70 percent of the UHMWPE fiber produced on the international market is currently used in ballistic protection.
2. UD Ballistic Materials
UD material made from UHMWPE fiber is a new type of high-performance composite that has appeared on the international market in recent years, mainly for advanced ballistic protection; it is also known as UD ballistic fabric or ballistic unidirectional fabric. It differs greatly from conventionally structured ballistic materials in forming structure, processing technology and ballistic performance. In UHMWPE unidirectional fabric, the long fibers are arranged straight and parallel within the matrix material, and because strength loss during processing is minimal, the unique advantages of UHMWPE fiber itself can be fully exploited, giving the finished product excellent ballistic performance.
3. Huge Market Potential
According to statistics, 80 percent of battlefield injuries to soldiers are caused by fragments, while direct bullet hits account for only 20 percent. If ballistic vests and helmets are used, direct injuries to a soldier’s head, chest and abdomen can be reduced by 70 to 80 percent. To maximize individual protection and combat capability, countries around the world are therefore actively adopting ballistic materials, and in particular purchasing large quantities of new fiber-based ballistic materials to replace traditional ones.
Compared with traditional ballistic materials, UHMWPE fiber unidirectional fabric offers many outstanding advantages, including lower density, high impact strength, good flexibility, good cut resistance, absorption of bullets and fragments, and prevention of secondary injury from ricochets. It is a new high-tech ballistic material with the best overall performance, so its advantages over traditional materials are very clear, and it has become the most popular new high-tech protective product on today’s international market.