History

Innegra™ fiber (HMPP), a high modulus polyolefin multifilament fiber, that has been engineered for use in composite and textile applications to increase toughness, durability, vibration damping, and improve signal transmission, all with the opportunity to achieve a reduced weight at a lower cost. The textile and composite materials industries have made many technological advances in weight reduction, ballistic protection, and development of multi-functional materials since the introduction of synthetic fibers in the 20th century. The Innegra fiber technology continues to provide solutions in these fields through hybridizing with other high performance fibers.

Key Applications and Value Propositions

  • Boot Insoles: boot insoles made from Innegra S material are lighter weight, provide better puncture resistance, and are more comfortable than the metal shanks used historically. Applications include safety boots for fire & rescue, military service boots.

  • Radomes: the dielectric properties of Innegra S allow for substituting in part for more expensive and heavier quartz providing improved signal transmission and impact resistance. (temperature sensitive)

  • Blast/Ballistic Resistant Structures: the unique combination of strength and toughness make the Innegra S materials well suited for incorporation into blast or ballistic impact resistant structures for fragment trapping. Applications include tornado/hurricane shelters, blast-resistant walls, and blast- containment bags for suspected explosive devices.

  • Transportation: a global focus on improved vehicle efficiency is driving the development of lighter weight material solutions, such as hybridized composites. Incorporation of Innegra S materials into fiber-reinforced composite structures can enable further part weight reduction with improved durability and toughness for greater safety. Successful applications include automotive racing (Formula One, NASCAR, Indy) with potential for improved applications in fuel storage, UAV, fleet vehicles, and rapid deployment craft to name a few.

Key Innegra S Fiber Attributes and Values

  • Low Density: (0.84 g/cm3 bulk density) can help reduce product weight while maintaining or expanding function.

  • Tough: energy absorption/dissipation properties can improve impact resistance of a composite part limiting damage and improving tolerance of fiber-reinforced structures by quickly dissipating energy and reducing fracture propagation. Potential utility as a fragmentation trapping layer in ballistic/blast resistant.

  • Flexible & Ductile: Innegra S fiber provide a unique balance of stiffness, elongation, and strength that is complimentary to traditional high-performance fibers, allowing the stiffness/flexibility of composite structures to be optimally tailored for each application.

  • Moisture/Chemical Resistant: excellent resistance to acid/alkali and many common industrial

    chemicals makes Innegra S suitable for use in a wide range of operating conditions.

  • Operational Temperature Range: suitable for operational use from -100 °C to +60 °C, with stability to limited exposures up to 150 °C.

  • Low Dielectric Constant and Loss Factor: very low dielectric constant (Dk = 2.2) and loss factor (Df = 0.0009) enable design of structures for VHF to Ka band communications with low signal transmission loss

  • Low Cost: lower density yielding more material per pound, when combined with Innegra’s cost

    effectiveness in comparison to other high performance fibers, helps reduce material and labor cost associated with over engineering.