Self-reinforced polymer composites and aramid composites SRC
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre, Dyneema SGX, hot-compacted into a single-polymer composite
Self-reinforced composites (SRC) are made from one polymer in two forms: oriented fibres or tapes are pressed so that only their outer skin melts and bonds the rest, giving a laminate with a matrix and a reinforcement of the same chemistry.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Recipe, share of the weight
- not statedUHMWPE fibre (Dyneema SGX, 220 dtex)
- not statedIsotropic UHMWPE matrix (remelted fibre surface)
Best for
Light, recyclable structures where one polymer family is wanted: UHMWPE SRC gives about 1.0 g/cm3 with 174.3 MPa along the fibres
Weakest at
Strength across the fibres: 7.7 MPa transverse against 174.3 MPa along them, and the polyolefin SRC softens near 135 C in its unfilled matrix
Risk at a glance
- People Low. Dust is the main concern
- If it fails High. Loading across the fibres
- Corrosion Moderate. UV ageing lowers the breaking strength of UHMWPE mesh more efficiently than salt spray.
Quick facts: SRC
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 0.91 to 1.44 g/cm³ | 4 sourced values across conditions |
| Tensile strength | 40 to 3,000 MPa | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Young's modulus | 0.55 to 112 GPa | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | -4.9 ppm/K | 1 sourced value |
| Melting point | 135 to 163 °C | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Maximum service temperature | 82.2 to 177 °C | 2 sourced values across conditions |
What is the density of Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC)?
Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC) has a density of 0.91 to 1.44 g/cm³. The range covers 4 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC)?
Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC) has a coefficient of thermal expansion of -4.9 ppm/K. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the melting point of Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC)?
Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC) has a melting point of 135 to 163 °C. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the tensile strength of Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC)?
Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC) has a tensile strength of 40 to 3,000 MPa. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the Young's modulus of Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC)?
Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC) has a Young's modulus of 0.55 to 112 GPa. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is Self-reinforced polymer composites (SRC) used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Lightweight self-reinforced UHMWPE composite plates; Polyethylene galactic cosmic ray shield (neat polyethylene, not the SRC); Para-aramid fibre in rigid epoxy composites.
Why it exists
Self-reinforced composites give a light, recyclable laminate from one polymer family. The UHMWPE SRC reaches 174.3 MPa along the fibres with a density of about 1.0 g/cm3, and its matrix is an unfilled UHMW-PE that melts at 135 C. Para-aramid fibre gives the highest tensile values in this file, 3000 MPa and 112400 MPa for Kevlar 49 yarn, with a 1.44 g/cm3 density. Both systems are limited across the fibres and by heat or UV.
Where it's used
Structural plates
The UHMWPE SRC is pressed into flat plates in the lab, with the authors framing it as a lightweight alternative to carbon and glass composites.
Radiation shielding
NASA TP 3473 tests polyethylene as a galactic cosmic ray shield and quotes Shinn et al. calling it effective because of its short nuclear absorption lengths.
Carbon-aramid hybrid laminates
Woven aramid fibre is added to carbon-epoxy laminates as a high-strain layer, which the authors study for in-plane tensile behaviour and, in the cited literature, for impact strength.
Recipe
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre, Dyneema SGX, hot-compacted into a single-polymer composite; para-aramid fibre (wholly aromatic polyamide, Kevlar type) in aramid laminates
Self-reinforced composites are made by hot compaction of oriented fibres or tapes of one polymer. The surface of each fibre melts and, on cooling, forms an isotropic matrix around the unmelted core, which keeps its orientation and carries the load. The UHMWPE SRC in the sources was pressed from SGX fibre (220 dtex) at 155 to 170 C and 25 to 50 MPa, with the heating time 50 minutes and the moulding time 10 minutes. Aramid composites are different: the fibre is a reinforcement in a separate resin matrix, and the sources read here give no laminate recipe.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| UHMWPE fibre (Dyneema SGX, 220 dtex) | not stated | Carries the load along the fibre direction; the preserved fibre fraction sets the strength. |
| Isotropic UHMWPE matrix (remelted fibre surface) | not stated | Bonds the fibres together and transfers load between them; the amount grows with compaction temperature. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Property
The SRC is made into flat plates by hot compaction, and the sources report 110.2 to 117.3 MPa in flexure at 155 to 170 C.
Use
Polyethylene (neat) is named in NASA work as an effective galactic cosmic ray shield, because of its high hydrogen content.
How it compares
The UHMWPE SRC is about four times as strong along the fibres as the unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (174.3 MPa against 40.0 MPa), and its density of about 1.0 g/cm3 is well below the 1.44 g/cm3 of Kevlar 49 yarn. The Kevlar yarn is about 17 times stronger than the SRC along the fibres (3000 MPa against 174.3 MPa), but the figures are for a single fibre bundle against a lab-made composite, so they are not directly comparable.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | SRC | CFRP |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | ||
| Melting point of unfilled UHMW-PE, DSC peak (matrix grade) | 135 °C13 | no data |
| Unconstrained peak melting point of the polypropylene tapes | 163 °C19 | no data |
| Physical and electrical | ||
| Density of UHMWPE fibre reinforced composites, approximate | 1 g/cm³9 | 1.3 g/cm³ |
| Density of unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade) | 0.93 g/cc12 | 1.3 g/cm³ |
| Density of polypropylene used for self-reinforced tapes | 910 kg/m318 | 1.3 g/cm³ |
| Density of para-aramid yarn, Kevlar 49 | 1.44 g/cm³21 | 1.3 g/cm³ |
| Temperature behavior | ||
| Hot compaction temperature at the peak of property for PP tapes | 190 °C20 | no data |
| Decomposition temperature of Kevlar in air | 427 °C26 | no data |
| Other measurements | ||
| Tensile strength along the fibres, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa, regime 1 | 174.3 MPa1 | 2724 MPa |
| Tensile strength across the fibres, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa, regime 1 | 7.7 MPa2 | 2724 MPa |
| Flexural strength, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C end of the range | 110.2 MPa3 | no data |
| Flexural strength, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C end of the range | 117.3 MPa4 | no data |
| Flexural modulus, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C end of the range | 37.7 GPa5 | no data |
| Flexural modulus, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C end of the range | 18 GPa6 | no data |
| Single lap shear strength, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa | 2.1 MPa7 | no data |
| Single lap shear strength, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C and 25 MPa | 3.8 MPa8 | no data |
| Crystallinity of UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa | 92 %10 | no data |
| Crystallinity of UHMWPE SRC, 170 C and 25 MPa | 69 %11 | no data |
| Maximum service temperature in air, unfilled UHMW-PE (matrix grade) | 82.2 °C14 | 121 °C |
| Tensile strength, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade) | 40 MPa15 | 2724 MPa |
| Elongation at break, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade)Value printed in the datasheet, ASTM D638 | 300 % | no data |
| Tensile modulus, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade) | 0.552 GPa16 | 164 GPa |
| Water absorption of unfilled UHMW-PE, 24 hour immersion (matrix grade) | 0.01 %17 | 0.75 % |
| Tensile strength of Kevlar 49 yarn, straight test on conditioned yarn | 3000 MPa22 | 2724 MPa |
| Tensile modulus of Kevlar 49 yarn | 1.12×10^5 MPa23 | 164 GPa |
| Elongation at break of Kevlar 49 yarn | 2.4 %24 | no data |
| Recommended maximum temperature for long-term use in air, Kevlar | 149 °C25 | 121 °C |
| Equilibrium moisture content of Kevlar 49 yarn, from bone-dry yarn | 3.5 %27 | 0.75 % |
| Coefficient of thermal expansion of Kevlar 49 yarn, longitudinal direction | -4.9 ppm/K28 | 0.18 ppm/K |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Light structural parts where strength is needed along one direction and recyclability matters.
- Radiation shielding in polyethylene form, with the SRC as a route to a stiffer polyethylene part (not tested in the sources here).
Watch out for
- Compaction temperature sets the reinforcement left in the part. Near 170 C, most of the fibres melt.
- Across-fibre strength is about 7.7 MPa for the SRC, far below the along-fibre value.
- Aramid yarn needs UV shielding and dust control.
Strong along the fibre and recyclable in principle, but weak across it and sensitive to compaction temperature; the aramid values are for the fibre, and laminate data for the aramid systems is still missing.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tensile strength along the fibres, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa, regime 1 | Ultimate tensile strength printed in Table 2, column UTS long, row 155 C, 25 MPa, regime 1 | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema), 220 dtexform self-reinforced composite, hot compacted, longitudinal specimenstemperature 155 C compactionpressure 25 MPa compactionprocess regime 1 as printed in the table | — |
| 2 | Tensile strength across the fibres, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa, regime 1 | Ultimate tensile strength printed in Table 2, column UTS trans, row 155 C, 25 MPa, regime 1 | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema), 220 dtexform self-reinforced composite, hot compacted, transverse specimenstemperature 155 C compactionpressure 25 MPa compactionprocess regime 1 as printed in the table | — |
| 3 | Flexural strength, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C end of the range | Value printed in the text as the lower end of a range, with the 1.5 MPa standard deviation printed beside it; the paper says the strength rises with compaction temperature | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)form self-reinforced composite, hot compactedtemperature 155 C compaction (lower end of the range)pressure 25 MPa compaction | — |
| 4 | Flexural strength, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C end of the range | Value printed in the text as the upper end of a range, with the 1.7 MPa standard deviation printed beside it | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)form self-reinforced composite, hot compactedtemperature 170 C compaction (upper end of the range)pressure 25 MPa compaction | — |
| 5 | Flexural modulus, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C end of the range | Value printed in the text with the 1.8 GPa standard deviation; the paper says the modulus falls as compaction temperature rises | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)form self-reinforced composite, hot compactedtemperature 155 C compactionpressure 25 MPa compaction | — |
| 6 | Flexural modulus, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C end of the range | Value printed in the text with the 1.4 GPa standard deviation | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)form self-reinforced composite, hot compactedtemperature 170 C compactionpressure 25 MPa compaction | — |
| 7 | Single lap shear strength, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa | Value printed in Table 1 with the standard deviation 0.10 MPa; shear strength is not a canonical name, so the name is kept as shear_strength | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)form self-reinforced composite against isotropic UHMWPE, hot compactedtemperature 155 C compactionpressure 25 MPa compaction | — |
| 8 | Single lap shear strength, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C and 25 MPa | Value printed in Table 1 with the standard deviation 0.14 MPa; the paper reports shear strength rising with compaction temperature at 25 MPa | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)form self-reinforced composite against isotropic UHMWPE, hot compactedtemperature 170 C compactionpressure 25 MPa compaction | — |
| 9 | Density of UHMWPE fibre reinforced composites, approximate | Approximate figure printed in the introduction; not a measured value reported in the paper | basis approximate value stated for UHMWPE SRCs, compared with carbon or glass composites at 1.8 to 2.5 g/cm3temperature not stated | — |
| 10 | Crystallinity of UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa | Value printed in Table 1 and the text, with standard deviation 1.1 percent; crystallinity is not a canonical name, so it is kept as crystallinity | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)temperature 155 C compactionpressure 25 MPa compactionmethod of measure DSC melting enthalpy against 291 J/g for 100 percent crystalline UHMWPE | — |
| 11 | Crystallinity of UHMWPE SRC, 170 C and 25 MPa | Value printed in Table 1 and the text, with standard deviation 1.2 percent | fibre UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)temperature 170 C compactionpressure 25 MPa compactionmethod of measure DSC melting enthalpy against 291 J/g for 100 percent crystalline UHMWPE | — |
| 12 | Density of unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade) | Specific gravity printed in the datasheet, ASTM D792; shown as a matrix reference, not as the SRC density | grade TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheettemperature not stated | — |
| 13 | Melting point of unfilled UHMW-PE, DSC peak (matrix grade) | Value printed in the datasheet as 135 C (275 F); the test is a DSC peak | grade TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheetbasis crystalline peak, ASTM D3418 | — |
| 14 | Maximum service temperature in air, unfilled UHMW-PE (matrix grade) | Value printed as 82.2 C (180 F) in the datasheet, a service limit for the matrix polymer | grade TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheetatmosphere air | — |
| 15 | Tensile strength, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade) | Value printed in the datasheet as 40.0 MPa (5800 psi), with the ASTM D638 method | grade TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheettemperature room temperature (not stated)test ASTM D638 | — |
| 16 | Tensile modulus, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade) | Value printed in the datasheet as 0.552 GPa (80.0 ksi), ASTM D638 | grade TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheettest ASTM D638 | — |
| 17 | Water absorption of unfilled UHMW-PE, 24 hour immersion (matrix grade) | Upper limit printed in the datasheet; the saturation value is printed with the same upper limit | grade TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheettest 24 hour immersion, ASTM D570note printed as less than or equal to 0.010 percent, so the value is an upper limit | — |
| 18 | Density of polypropylene used for self-reinforced tapes | Value printed in the materials section of the paper for the PP homopolymer tapes used to make single-polymer composites | grade PP homopolymer, weight average molecular weight 360000 g/moltemperature not stated | — |
| 19 | Unconstrained peak melting point of the polypropylene tapes | Value printed in the materials section; the compaction window in the paper is set just below and above the melting range | grade PP homopolymer, weight average molecular weight 360000 g/molbasis unconstrained peak melting point, before compaction | — |
| 20 | Hot compaction temperature at the peak of property for PP tapes | Approximate peak in the properties printed in the results text (about 190 C); the paper reports the Young modulus against compaction temperature in a figure, so only the text value is used | grade PP homopolymer tapes, draw ratios studied in the paperpressure hot press, 4.9 MPa on the sample framebasis peak in the tensile properties, for all draw ratios except the lowest | — |
| 21 | Density of para-aramid yarn, Kevlar 49 | Value printed in the yarn properties table as 0.052 lb/in3, with the g/cm3 value in parentheses | fibre Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,140 deniertemperature not stated | — |
| 22 | Tensile strength of Kevlar 49 yarn, straight test on conditioned yarn | Typical value printed in the yarn properties table in MPa, with the 435000 psi figure beside it | fibre Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,140 denier, 768 filamentsstate conditioned yarn, straight testtemperature not stated in the row | — |
| 23 | Tensile modulus of Kevlar 49 yarn | Typical value printed in the yarn properties table in MPa (112,400 MPa) | fibre Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,140 denierstate conditioned yarn, straight test | — |
| 24 | Elongation at break of Kevlar 49 yarn | Typical value printed in the yarn properties table | fibre Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,140 denierstate conditioned yarn, straight test | — |
| 25 | Recommended maximum temperature for long-term use in air, Kevlar | Range printed in the thermal properties table, converted from F as printed (300 to 350 F); the guide gives the range as 149 to 177 C | fibre Kevlar para-aramid yarnatmosphere airduration long-term useunit in source 300 to 350 F | — |
| 26 | Decomposition temperature of Kevlar in air | Range printed in the thermal properties table as 427 to 482 C (800 to 900 F); decomposition temperature is not a canonical name | fibre Kevlar para-aramidatmosphere airrate depends on the heating rate; typical TGA at 10 C per minuteunit in source 800 to 900 F | — |
| 27 | Equilibrium moisture content of Kevlar 49 yarn, from bone-dry yarn | Value printed in the moisture levels table for Kevlar 49, equilibrium from bone-dry yarn | fibre Kevlar 49 yarnstate equilibrium from bone-dry yarnhumidity conditions as printed in the moisture table, not restated in this file | — |
| 28 | Coefficient of thermal expansion of Kevlar 49 yarn, longitudinal direction | Value printed as -4.9 x 10-6 cm/cm/C in the CTE table, shown here in ppm/K, which has the same value; the guide notes that the CTE depends on measuring technique | fibre Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,420 deniertemperature range 25 to 150 Cunit in source -4.9 x 10-6 cm/cm/C | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| UV light exposure of UHMWPE fibre mesh, outdoors and in artificial UV | moderate | UV ageing lowers the breaking strength of UHMWPE mesh more efficiently than salt spray.1 |
| Hot and humid ageing of UHMWPE fibres at 50 C and 93 percent relative humidity | moderate | Humid heat first lowers breaking strength, then the fibres bond into clumps and the strength rises slightly.2 |
| Salt spray on UHMWPE fibre mesh, 5 wt percent NaCl at 35 C | low | Salt spray is the milder of the marine ageing tests for the UHMWPE mesh, per the paper's comparison with UV.3 |
| Heat in nitrogen, para-aramid yarn (Kevlar) | low | Kevlar tensile properties are virtually unaffected by 538 C in nitrogen, but it decomposes in air at 427 to 482 C.4 |
| UV light exposure of para-aramid yarn | moderate | Unprotected Kevlar yarn yellows to brown and can lose mechanical properties under extended UV.5 |
| Strong aqueous acids, bases and sodium hypochlorite on para-aramid yarn | moderate | Kevlar is chemically stable under a wide range of conditions, but strong acids, bases and hypochlorite can degrade it.6 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UV light exposure of UHMWPE fibre mesh, outdoors and in artificial UV | The paper says UV energy activates UHMWPE molecules and causes chain breaking, which lowers the breaking strength more efficiently than salt spray. No retention percentage was read in the text used here. | basis qualitative statement from the abstract; no retention value readmaterial UHMWPE fibre barrier net (marine service) |
| 2 | Hot and humid ageing of UHMWPE fibres at 50 C and 93 percent relative humidity | The paper says the breaking strength drops rapidly at first, then rises slightly as the UHMWPE fibres bond into clumps. The acceleration ratio of the test spectrum rises with ageing time. | temperature 50 Chumidity 93 percent relative humiditycycle 10 days per cycle in the chamber |
| 3 | Salt spray on UHMWPE fibre mesh, 5 wt percent NaCl at 35 C | The paper finds UV more damaging than salt spray for breaking strength. No salt spray retention value was read. | electrolyte 5 wt percent NaCltemperature 35 Cstandard ISO 4611-2010duration up to 60 days in six 10-day cycles |
| 4 | Heat in nitrogen, para-aramid yarn (Kevlar) | The guide says the tensile properties of Kevlar are virtually unaffected by 1000 F (538 C) in nitrogen. In air the decomposition range is 427 to 482 C, and the recommended long-term use range is 149 to 177 C. | atmosphere nitrogentemperature 538 C |
| 5 | UV light exposure of para-aramid yarn | The guide says unprotected yarn tends to discolour from yellow to brown after prolonged exposure, and that extended UV exposure can cause loss of mechanical properties, depending on wavelength, time and intensity. Degradation needs oxygen; moisture does not enhance it. No retention figure was read. | atmosphere oxygen presentguidance keep yarn away from fluorescent lamps and window glass |
| 6 | Strong aqueous acids, bases and sodium hypochlorite on para-aramid yarn | The guide says degradation can occur with certain strong aqueous acids, bases and sodium hypochlorite, particularly over long periods and at elevated temperatures. Table II-3 gives the breaking strength after exposure; its numbers were not used here. | agents strong aqueous acids, strong bases, sodium hypochloritetemperature elevated temperatures over long periods |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The sources read here show low acute hazard for the polyolefin and aramid fibres, with dust as the main concern.
- Dust in the workshop
- Kevlar is classed for combustible dust, and the SDS advises avoiding dust formation. TIVAR VMX is not GHS classified but also advises avoiding dust.
- Styrene in vinyl ester resins
- PubChem lists styrene as flammable and harmful if inhaled, a suspected reproductive hazard and a specific organ toxicant on repeated exposure. Check the resin SDS.
If it fails
The fibre direction decides the weak direction. The UHMWPE SRC is strong along the fibres and weak across them.
- Loading across the fibres
- The SRC gives 7.7 MPa across the fibres against 174.3 MPa along them, so layup decides how much of the strength a part can use.
- Heat during compaction
- At 170 C only 34 percent of the fibres survive compaction, so the process window is narrow.
- UV on aramid
- Unprotected aramid yarn yellows and can lose strength under UV. Shielding from UV is the mitigation the guide gives.
Handling and storage
- Keep it dry and shielded
- Aramid moisture equilibrium is 3.5 percent for Kevlar 49 yarn from bone-dry state, so the yarn picks up moisture in use.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Loading across the fibreshigh severity | Tension transverse to the fibre direction in a unidirectional SRCThe paper gives 4.1 to 16.5 MPa across the fibres, against 67.8 to 174.3 MPa along them. Layup decides how much of the fibre strength a part can use. |
| Over-melting of the fibres during hot compactionhigh severity | Compaction at 165 to 170 C at 25 MPaThe preserved fibre fraction falls from 88 percent at 155 C to 76 percent at 165 C and 34 percent at 170 C, so the reinforcement is largely lost at the top of the window. |
| Narrow processing window for polypropylene tapesmoderate severity | Compaction temperature away from the optimum near 190 CThe paper reports the modulus and strength depend strongly on compaction temperature, and the optimum shifts with draw ratio. Off-optimum compaction gives weaker sheets. |
| Ultraviolet degradation of aramid yarnmoderate severity | Extended UV exposure with oxygen presentThe guide says the yarn discolours and can lose mechanical properties. The fibre must be shielded from UV, and no retention figure is given in the text read. |
Side effects on surrounding parts
| Affects | Effect |
|---|---|
| Workers and workshop air | Dust from cutting or machining aramid and polyolefin composites can build up and form combustible dust in air. Handling dust is the main practical side effect. |
Handling and storage
- Avoid dust formation. Keep fibre fly and dust under control by ventilation or vacuum cleaning, not by sweeping.
- The guide notes exposure limits for para-aramid as respirable fibres at 2 RFP/cc and for dust at 5 mg/m3 (8 and 12 hour TWA, DuPont AEL). Wear safety glasses with side shields and a respirator when limits are exceeded.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
UHMWPE fibre (Dyneema SGX, 220 dtex, 15 to 20 micrometres diameter)
Not applicable: synthetic polymer fibre; no crustal abundance applies
Para-aramid fibre (Kevlar)
Not applicable: synthetic aromatic polyamide fibre; no crustal abundance applies
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
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spore: profile
id: self-reinforced-composites
spore_version: 0.2
family: glass-and-composites
name: Self-reinforced polymer composites and aramid composites
abbreviation: SRC
role: structural composite
category: composites
type: carbon-fiber-reinforced
summary: |
Self-reinforced composites (SRC) are made from one polymer in two forms: oriented fibres or tapes are pressed so that only their outer skin melts and bonds the rest, giving a laminate with a matrix and a reinforcement of the same chemistry. The UHMWPE SRC in the sources read here, made from Dyneema SGX fibre, reaches 174.3 MPa along the fibres at 155 C and 25 MPa, at about 1.0 g/cm3. Para-aramid fibre (Kevlar type) is a separate, high-strength reinforcement with a density of 1.44 g/cm3 and a yarn tensile strength of 3000 MPa, and it is used in aramid laminates with epoxy, vinyl ester and thermoplastic matrices. Most numbers in this file are for the fibre or the matrix resin; laminate values for the aramid systems were not read.
best_for: 'Light, recyclable structures where one polymer family is wanted: UHMWPE SRC gives about 1.0 g/cm3 with 174.3 MPa along the fibres'
weakest_at: 'Strength across the fibres: 7.7 MPa transverse against 174.3 MPa along them, and the polyolefin SRC softens near 135 C in its unfilled matrix'
identity:
formula: Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre, Dyneema SGX, hot-compacted into a single-polymer composite; para-aramid fibre (wholly aromatic polyamide, Kevlar type) in aramid laminates
source: srpc-2021
where: 'Section 2.1, Self-Reinforced Composite (SRC) Preparation: UHMWPE fibres from SGX (DSM Dyneema) with a linear density of 220 dtex; Dupont Kevlar guide, Section I, what is Kevlar'
tags:
environments:
- deep-space
stresses:
- uv
- extreme-heat
applications:
- structures
- radiation-shielding
properties:
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength along the fibres, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa, regime 1
value: 174.3
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema), 220 dtex
form: self-reinforced composite, hot compacted, longitudinal specimens
temperature: 155 C compaction
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
process: regime 1 as printed in the table
method: Ultimate tensile strength printed in Table 2, column UTS long, row 155 C, 25 MPa, regime 1
status: ground
source: srpc-2021
where: Table 2, row 155 C 25 MPa regime 1, column UTS long
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength across the fibres, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa, regime 1
value: 7.7
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema), 220 dtex
form: self-reinforced composite, hot compacted, transverse specimens
temperature: 155 C compaction
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
process: regime 1 as printed in the table
method: Ultimate tensile strength printed in Table 2, column UTS trans, row 155 C, 25 MPa, regime 1
status: ground
source: srpc-2021
where: Table 2, row 155 C 25 MPa regime 1, column UTS trans
- benchmark: flexural_strength
label: Flexural strength, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C end of the range
value: 110.2
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)
form: self-reinforced composite, hot compacted
temperature: 155 C compaction (lower end of the range)
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
method: Value printed in the text as the lower end of a range, with the 1.5 MPa standard deviation printed beside it; the paper says the strength rises with compaction temperature
status: ground
source: srpc-2020
where: Results, paragraph on flexural strength and flexural modulus (Figure 4)
- benchmark: flexural_strength
label: Flexural strength, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C end of the range
value: 117.3
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)
form: self-reinforced composite, hot compacted
temperature: 170 C compaction (upper end of the range)
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
method: Value printed in the text as the upper end of a range, with the 1.7 MPa standard deviation printed beside it
status: ground
source: srpc-2020
where: Results, paragraph on flexural strength and flexural modulus (Figure 4)
- benchmark: flexural_modulus
label: Flexural modulus, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C end of the range
value: 37.7
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)
form: self-reinforced composite, hot compacted
temperature: 155 C compaction
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
method: Value printed in the text with the 1.8 GPa standard deviation; the paper says the modulus falls as compaction temperature rises
status: ground
source: srpc-2020
where: Results, paragraph on flexural strength and flexural modulus (Figure 4)
- benchmark: flexural_modulus
label: Flexural modulus, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C end of the range
value: 18
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)
form: self-reinforced composite, hot compacted
temperature: 170 C compaction
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
method: Value printed in the text with the 1.4 GPa standard deviation
status: ground
source: srpc-2020
where: Results, paragraph on flexural strength and flexural modulus (Figure 4)
- benchmark: shear_strength
label: Single lap shear strength, UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa
value: 2.1
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)
form: self-reinforced composite against isotropic UHMWPE, hot compacted
temperature: 155 C compaction
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
method: Value printed in Table 1 with the standard deviation 0.10 MPa; shear strength is not a canonical name, so the name is kept as shear_strength
status: ground
source: srpc-2020
where: Table 1, row 155, column Shear Strength at 25 MPa
- benchmark: shear_strength
label: Single lap shear strength, UHMWPE SRC, 170 C and 25 MPa
value: 3.8
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)
form: self-reinforced composite against isotropic UHMWPE, hot compacted
temperature: 170 C compaction
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
method: Value printed in Table 1 with the standard deviation 0.14 MPa; the paper reports shear strength rising with compaction temperature at 25 MPa
status: ground
source: srpc-2020
where: Table 1, row 170, column Shear Strength at 25 MPa
- benchmark: density
label: Density of UHMWPE fibre reinforced composites, approximate
value: 1
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
basis: approximate value stated for UHMWPE SRCs, compared with carbon or glass composites at 1.8 to 2.5 g/cm3
temperature: not stated
method: Approximate figure printed in the introduction; not a measured value reported in the paper
status: ground
source: srpc-2021
where: Introduction, paragraph on the lower density of UHMWPE SRCs
- benchmark: crystallinity
label: Crystallinity of UHMWPE SRC, 155 C and 25 MPa
value: 92
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)
temperature: 155 C compaction
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
method_of_measure: DSC melting enthalpy against 291 J/g for 100 percent crystalline UHMWPE
method: Value printed in Table 1 and the text, with standard deviation 1.1 percent; crystallinity is not a canonical name, so it is kept as crystallinity
status: ground
source: srpc-2020
where: Results, DSC paragraph, and Table 1, row 155 at 25 MPa
- benchmark: crystallinity
label: Crystallinity of UHMWPE SRC, 170 C and 25 MPa
value: 69
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: UHMWPE, SGX (DSM Dyneema)
temperature: 170 C compaction
pressure: 25 MPa compaction
method_of_measure: DSC melting enthalpy against 291 J/g for 100 percent crystalline UHMWPE
method: Value printed in Table 1 and the text, with standard deviation 1.2 percent
status: ground
source: srpc-2020
where: Results, DSC paragraph, and Table 1, row 170 at 25 MPa
- benchmark: density
label: Density of unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade)
value: 0.93
unit: g/cc
scope: material
conditions:
grade: TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet
temperature: not stated
method: Specific gravity printed in the datasheet, ASTM D792; shown as a matrix reference, not as the SRC density
status: ground
source: tivar-1000
where: Physical Properties table, row Specific Gravity
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point of unfilled UHMW-PE, DSC peak (matrix grade)
value: 135
unit: C
scope: material
conditions:
grade: TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet
basis: crystalline peak, ASTM D3418
method: Value printed in the datasheet as 135 C (275 F); the test is a DSC peak
status: ground
source: tivar-1000
where: Physical Properties table, row Melting Point, Crystalline Peak
- benchmark: max_service_temp
label: Maximum service temperature in air, unfilled UHMW-PE (matrix grade)
value: 82.2
unit: C
scope: material
conditions:
grade: TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet
atmosphere: air
method: Value printed as 82.2 C (180 F) in the datasheet, a service limit for the matrix polymer
status: ground
source: tivar-1000
where: Physical Properties table, row Maximum Service Temperature, Air
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade)
value: 40
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet
temperature: room temperature (not stated)
test: ASTM D638
method: Value printed in the datasheet as 40.0 MPa (5800 psi), with the ASTM D638 method
status: ground
source: tivar-1000
where: Mechanical Properties table, row Tensile Strength
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation at break, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade)
value: 300
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet
test: ASTM D638
method: Value printed in the datasheet, ASTM D638
status: ground
source: tivar-1000
where: Mechanical Properties table, row Elongation at Break
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Tensile modulus, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (matrix grade)
value: 0.552
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet
test: ASTM D638
method: Value printed in the datasheet as 0.552 GPa (80.0 ksi), ASTM D638
status: ground
source: tivar-1000
where: Mechanical Properties table, row Tensile Modulus
- benchmark: moisture_absorption
label: Water absorption of unfilled UHMW-PE, 24 hour immersion (matrix grade)
value: 0.01
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: TIVAR 1000, unfilled UHMW-PE sheet
test: 24 hour immersion, ASTM D570
note: printed as less than or equal to 0.010 percent, so the value is an upper limit
method: Upper limit printed in the datasheet; the saturation value is printed with the same upper limit
status: ground
source: tivar-1000
where: Physical Properties table, row Water Absorption, 24 hr immersion
- benchmark: density
label: Density of polypropylene used for self-reinforced tapes
value: 910
unit: kg/m3
scope: material
conditions:
grade: PP homopolymer, weight average molecular weight 360000 g/mol
temperature: not stated
method: Value printed in the materials section of the paper for the PP homopolymer tapes used to make single-polymer composites
status: ground
source: foster-2016
where: Materials section, first paragraph
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Unconstrained peak melting point of the polypropylene tapes
value: 163
unit: C
scope: material
conditions:
grade: PP homopolymer, weight average molecular weight 360000 g/mol
basis: unconstrained peak melting point, before compaction
method: Value printed in the materials section; the compaction window in the paper is set just below and above the melting range
status: ground
source: foster-2016
where: Materials section, first paragraph
- benchmark: compaction_peak_temperature
label: Hot compaction temperature at the peak of property for PP tapes
value: 190
unit: C
scope: material
conditions:
grade: PP homopolymer tapes, draw ratios studied in the paper
pressure: hot press, 4.9 MPa on the sample frame
basis: peak in the tensile properties, for all draw ratios except the lowest
method: Approximate peak in the properties printed in the results text (about 190 C); the paper reports the Young modulus against compaction temperature in a figure, so only the text value is used
status: ground
source: foster-2016
where: Results, paragraph on the peak in properties at about 190 C
- benchmark: density
label: Density of para-aramid yarn, Kevlar 49
value: 1.44
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,140 denier
temperature: not stated
method: Value printed in the yarn properties table as 0.052 lb/in3, with the g/cm3 value in parentheses
status: ground
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Yarn properties table, row Density, Kevlar 49 column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength of Kevlar 49 yarn, straight test on conditioned yarn
value: 3000
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,140 denier, 768 filaments
state: conditioned yarn, straight test
temperature: not stated in the row
method: Typical value printed in the yarn properties table in MPa, with the 435000 psi figure beside it
status: ground
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Tensile Properties table, row Breaking Strength, MPa, Kevlar 49 column
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Tensile modulus of Kevlar 49 yarn
value: 112400
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,140 denier
state: conditioned yarn, straight test
method: Typical value printed in the yarn properties table in MPa (112,400 MPa)
status: ground
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Tensile Properties table, row Tensile Modulus, MPa, Kevlar 49 column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation at break of Kevlar 49 yarn
value: 2.4
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,140 denier
state: conditioned yarn, straight test
method: Typical value printed in the yarn properties table
status: ground
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Tensile Properties table, row Elongation at Break, Kevlar 49 column
- benchmark: max_service_temp
label: Recommended maximum temperature for long-term use in air, Kevlar
value: 149
value_high: 177
unit: C
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: Kevlar para-aramid yarn
atmosphere: air
duration: long-term use
unit_in_source: 300 to 350 F
method: Range printed in the thermal properties table, converted from F as printed (300 to 350 F); the guide gives the range as 149 to 177 C
status: ground
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Thermal Properties table, row Recommended Maximum Temperature Range for Long-Term Use in Air
- benchmark: decomposition_temperature
label: Decomposition temperature of Kevlar in air
value: 427
value_high: 482
unit: C
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: Kevlar para-aramid
atmosphere: air
rate: depends on the heating rate; typical TGA at 10 C per minute
unit_in_source: 800 to 900 F
method: Range printed in the thermal properties table as 427 to 482 C (800 to 900 F); decomposition temperature is not a canonical name
status: ground
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Thermal Properties table, row Decomposition Temperature in Air
- benchmark: moisture_absorption
label: Equilibrium moisture content of Kevlar 49 yarn, from bone-dry yarn
value: 3.5
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: Kevlar 49 yarn
state: equilibrium from bone-dry yarn
humidity: conditions as printed in the moisture table, not restated in this file
method: Value printed in the moisture levels table for Kevlar 49, equilibrium from bone-dry yarn
status: ground
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Yarn properties table, Moisture Levels, row Equilibrium from Bone-Dry Yarn, Kevlar 49 column
- benchmark: cte
label: Coefficient of thermal expansion of Kevlar 49 yarn, longitudinal direction
value: -4.9
unit: ppm/K
scope: material
conditions:
fibre: Kevlar 49 yarn, 1,420 denier
temperature_range: 25 to 150 C
unit_in_source: '-4.9 x 10-6 cm/cm/C'
method: Value printed as -4.9 x 10-6 cm/cm/C in the CTE table, shown here in ppm/K, which has the same value; the guide notes that the CTE depends on measuring technique
status: ground
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Table II-4, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, Kevlar 49 row
corrosion:
- environment: UV light exposure of UHMWPE fibre mesh, outdoors and in artificial UV
headline: UV ageing lowers the breaking strength of UHMWPE mesh more efficiently than salt spray.
effect: The paper says UV energy activates UHMWPE molecules and causes chain breaking, which lowers the breaking strength more efficiently than salt spray. No retention percentage was read in the text used here.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: qualitative statement from the abstract; no retention value read
material: UHMWPE fibre barrier net (marine service)
source: mdpi-barrier
where: Abstract
- environment: Hot and humid ageing of UHMWPE fibres at 50 C and 93 percent relative humidity
headline: Humid heat first lowers breaking strength, then the fibres bond into clumps and the strength rises slightly.
effect: The paper says the breaking strength drops rapidly at first, then rises slightly as the UHMWPE fibres bond into clumps. The acceleration ratio of the test spectrum rises with ageing time.
rating: moderate
conditions:
temperature: 50 C
humidity: 93 percent relative humidity
cycle: 10 days per cycle in the chamber
source: mdpi-barrier
where: Abstract, and Section 2.2.3, Hygrothermal Aging Experiment
- environment: Salt spray on UHMWPE fibre mesh, 5 wt percent NaCl at 35 C
headline: Salt spray is the milder of the marine ageing tests for the UHMWPE mesh, per the paper's comparison with UV.
effect: The paper finds UV more damaging than salt spray for breaking strength. No salt spray retention value was read.
rating: low
conditions:
electrolyte: 5 wt percent NaCl
temperature: 35 C
standard: ISO 4611-2010
duration: up to 60 days in six 10-day cycles
source: mdpi-barrier
where: Abstract; Section 2.2.2, Salt Spray Aging Experiment
- environment: Heat in nitrogen, para-aramid yarn (Kevlar)
headline: Kevlar tensile properties are virtually unaffected by 538 C in nitrogen, but it decomposes in air at 427 to 482 C.
effect: The guide says the tensile properties of Kevlar are virtually unaffected by 1000 F (538 C) in nitrogen. In air the decomposition range is 427 to 482 C, and the recommended long-term use range is 149 to 177 C.
rating: low
conditions:
atmosphere: nitrogen
temperature: 538 C
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Thermal Properties, text on decomposition temperature and effect of elevated temperatures
- environment: UV light exposure of para-aramid yarn
headline: Unprotected Kevlar yarn yellows to brown and can lose mechanical properties under extended UV.
effect: The guide says unprotected yarn tends to discolour from yellow to brown after prolonged exposure, and that extended UV exposure can cause loss of mechanical properties, depending on wavelength, time and intensity. Degradation needs oxygen; moisture does not enhance it. No retention figure was read.
rating: moderate
conditions:
atmosphere: oxygen present
guidance: keep yarn away from fluorescent lamps and window glass
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Section II, Effect of UV Light on Kevlar, and the text before it
- environment: Strong aqueous acids, bases and sodium hypochlorite on para-aramid yarn
headline: Kevlar is chemically stable under a wide range of conditions, but strong acids, bases and hypochlorite can degrade it.
effect: The guide says degradation can occur with certain strong aqueous acids, bases and sodium hypochlorite, particularly over long periods and at elevated temperatures. Table II-3 gives the breaking strength after exposure; its numbers were not used here.
rating: moderate
conditions:
agents: strong aqueous acids, strong bases, sodium hypochlorite
temperature: elevated temperatures over long periods
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Section II, Effect of Chemical Agents on Kevlar, and Table II-3
uses:
- application: structures
device: Lightweight self-reinforced UHMWPE composite plates
example: The UHMWPE SRC is pressed as rectangular plates of 80 by 10 by 2 mm in the work read here. The authors frame SRCs as lightweight, chemically inert alternatives to carbon and glass composites for mechanical use.
source: srpc-2021
where: Section 2.1 and Introduction, paragraph on applications requiring chemical inertness
- application: radiation-shielding
device: Polyethylene galactic cosmic ray shield (neat polyethylene, not the SRC)
example: The NASA technical paper tests polyethylene as a shield material. It quotes Shinn et al. as saying polyethylene, with its short nuclear absorption lengths, is an effective shield material.
source: nasa-tp3473
where: Introduction, paragraph on hydrogenous shield materials
- application: structures
device: Para-aramid fibre in rigid epoxy composites
example: The guide compares Kevlar with the modulus of an epoxy used in making rigid composites, in its low temperature property discussion. The fibre is used for reinforcement of polymer matrices in these composites.
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Section II, low temperature (cryogenic) property text, comparison with epoxy
- application: structures
device: Carbon-epoxy laminate with woven aramid layers
example: A 2024 study adds woven aramid fibre to carbon-epoxy laminates made by vacuum assisted resin infusion, to study the in-plane tensile behaviour. The aramid is treated as a high strain material that improves impact strength.
source: manipal-carbon-aramid
where: Abstract
supply:
- subject: UHMWPE fibre (Dyneema SGX, 220 dtex, 15 to 20 micrometres diameter)
abundance: 'Not applicable: synthetic polymer fibre; no crustal abundance applies'
producers: []
manufacture: The paper names DSM Dyneema, Heerlen, Netherlands, as the source of the SGX fibre used in the SRC work. No production shares by country were read in a fetched source.
source: srpc-2021
where: Section 2.1, Self-Reinforced Composite (SRC) Preparation
- subject: Para-aramid fibre (Kevlar)
abundance: 'Not applicable: synthetic aromatic polyamide fibre; no crustal abundance applies'
producers: []
manufacture: The guide is published by DuPont for Kevlar aramid fibre. No production shares by country were read.
source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Introduction, What is Kevlar, and the guide cover
risks:
hazards:
- text: Para-aramid (Kevlar) fibre dust may form combustible dust concentrations in air if small particles are generated during processing, handling or by other means. The SDS classification is combustible dust, with signal word Warning.
ghs: []
source: kevlar-sds
where: Section 2, hazard identification (product hazard category, combustible dust)
- text: The Kevlar SDS reports no skin irritation in guinea pigs and an oral LD50 above 7500 mg/kg in rat, and says the polymer is not expected to produce toxic effects. Eye protection with side-shields is recommended.
ghs: []
source: kevlar-sds
where: Section 11, toxicological information, and Section 8, eye protection
- text: Unfilled UHMW-PE (TIVAR VMX food grade SDS) is not classified under GHS, with no signal word and no hazard statements. The sheet still advises avoiding dust formation.
ghs: []
source: tivar-vmx-sds
where: Section 2, GHS classification; Section 7, handling
- text: PubChem GHS summary for styrene (CID 7501), a monomer that vinyl ester resins are often diluted with. The vinyl ester formulation used in the sources read here was not published, so this applies to styrene, not to a cured laminate.
ghs:
- 'H226: Flammable liquid and vapor'
- 'H315: Causes skin irritation'
- 'H319: Causes serious eye irritation'
- 'H332: Harmful if inhaled'
- 'H361d: Suspected of damaging the unborn child'
- 'H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure'
source: pubchem-styrene
where: GHS Classification, first block of hazard statements for CID 7501
failure_risks:
- source: srpc-2021
where: Table 2, transverse and longitudinal UTS columns
mode: Loading across the fibres
trigger: Tension transverse to the fibre direction in a unidirectional SRC
consequence: The paper gives 4.1 to 16.5 MPa across the fibres, against 67.8 to 174.3 MPa along them. Layup decides how much of the fibre strength a part can use.
severity: high
- source: srpc-2020
where: Results, DSC paragraph, fraction of preserved fibres
mode: Over-melting of the fibres during hot compaction
trigger: Compaction at 165 to 170 C at 25 MPa
consequence: The preserved fibre fraction falls from 88 percent at 155 C to 76 percent at 165 C and 34 percent at 170 C, so the reinforcement is largely lost at the top of the window.
severity: high
- source: foster-2016
where: Results, paragraph on the peak in properties with compaction temperature
mode: Narrow processing window for polypropylene tapes
trigger: Compaction temperature away from the optimum near 190 C
consequence: The paper reports the modulus and strength depend strongly on compaction temperature, and the optimum shifts with draw ratio. Off-optimum compaction gives weaker sheets.
severity: moderate
- source: dupont-kevlar-guide
where: Section II, Effect of UV Light on Kevlar
mode: Ultraviolet degradation of aramid yarn
trigger: Extended UV exposure with oxygen present
consequence: The guide says the yarn discolours and can lose mechanical properties. The fibre must be shielded from UV, and no retention figure is given in the text read.
severity: moderate
side_effects:
- text: Dust from cutting or machining aramid and polyolefin composites can build up and form combustible dust in air. Handling dust is the main practical side effect.
affects: Workers and workshop air
source: kevlar-sds
where: Section 2, combustible dust, and Section 7, handling
mitigations: []
handling:
- text: Avoid dust formation. Keep fibre fly and dust under control by ventilation or vacuum cleaning, not by sweeping.
source: kevlar-sds
where: Section 7, handling and storage
- text: The guide notes exposure limits for para-aramid as respirable fibres at 2 RFP/cc and for dust at 5 mg/m3 (8 and 12 hour TWA, DuPont AEL). Wear safety glasses with side shields and a respirator when limits are exceeded.
source: kevlar-sds
where: Section 8, exposure limit values and eye protection
gaps:
- 'Curv (self-reinforced PP, Propex): no numeric value was read. The UL Prospector datasheet page returned a blocked page, the Index Thermoplastics page returned 403, and search results only gave relative ratings. Density, tensile modulus and strength for Curv are not in this file.'
- 'Pure PP/PP self-reinforced composites: no product datasheet was reached. The only PP numbers are for PP homopolymer tapes from the 2016 Leeds study (density, melting point, compaction peak).'
- 'PE/PE commercial composites (Dyneema SRPE sheet grades): no manufacturer datasheet was read. The UHMWPE SRC values come from academic papers on SGX fibre compacted in the lab. Dyneema SK75 fibre values from search snippets were not used.'
- 'Carbon/polyaramid laminates: the 2024 study was read as an abstract only. No tensile, modulus or failure strain values were printed in the text used.'
- 'Polyaramid/vinylester laminates: the 2010 Kevlar and vinyl ester study was read at the setup level (unidirectional Kevlar, 20, 40 and 60 wt percent, surface density 340 g/cm2). Its results were not in the text fetched. The MDPI MWCNT-anchored p-aramid paper was found but not read.'
- 'Polyaramid/PPS hybrid laminates: no source was found for this pairing. Search returned PPS-carbon and PPS-glass data only, which are not used.'
- Aramid laminate values (carbon/aramid, polyaramid/vinylester) are not in this file. The aramid numbers are for the Kevlar 49 yarn, not for a laminate.
- 'UHMWPE mesh ageing: the paper gives UV and hygrothermal effects in words only. The retention table was not found in the full text read via Europe PMC, so no percent retention is given.'
- No atomic oxygen, outgassing or total mass loss values were read for these systems.
- Water uptake at saturation for the UHMWPE SRC and for aramid laminates was not read. The 3.5 percent value is the equilibrium of Kevlar 49 yarn from bone-dry yarn, under the conditions printed in the table.
- Fibre volume fraction and void content of the SRC samples were not read as numbers.
- 'Crystallinity, shear strength and decomposition temperature are not canonical benchmark names, so they are kept as snake_case names: crystallinity, shear_strength, decomposition_temperature.'
- Foster 2016 gives Young modulus in GPa only in a figure, so only the text values are used.
- Supply shares by country, abundance and critical-mineral status for the polyolefin and aramid fibres were not read. No critical-mineral list was checked.
- Styrene hazards apply to the monomer, not a cured vinyl ester laminate. The resin SDS was not read.
- Recycling data for SRC (for example, how many cycles keep the properties) was not found in a readable source.
sources:
srpc-2021:
title: On the Structural Peculiarities of Self-Reinforced Composite Materials Based on UHMWPE Fibers
id: Zherebtsov D, Chukov D, et al., Polymers 13(9), 1408, doi 10.3390/polym13091408 (2021)
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8123710
year: 2021
kind: paper
license: open access (MDPI, CC BY)
srpc-2020:
title: Hybrid Self-Reinforced Composite Materials Based on Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
id: Zherebtsov D, Chukov D, et al., Materials 13(7), 1739, doi 10.3390/ma13071739 (2020)
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7178665
year: 2020
kind: paper
license: open access (MDPI, CC BY)
foster-2016:
title: The effect of draw ratio on the mechanical properties and crystalline structure of single polymer polypropylene composites
id: Foster RJ, Hine PJ, Ward IM, Polymer 91, 156-161, doi 10.1016/j.polymer.2016.03.042 (2016); accepted manuscript read here
url: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/95612/7/DRpaper_resubmission.pdf
year: 2016
kind: paper
license: accepted manuscript, White Rose Research Online
tivar-1000:
title: 'TIVAR 1000 UHMW-PE: Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (formerly Quadrant) material data sheet, Polymershapes copy'
id: Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, ASTM-format data sheet
url: https://www.polymershapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Material_Data_TIVAR_1000_UHMW-PE.pdf
year: 2020
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer datasheet, cited not reproduced
dupont-kevlar-guide:
title: Technical Guide for Kevlar Aramid Fiber (DuPont), copy hosted by a third party
id: DuPont Kevlar aramid fiber technical guide
url: https://www.r-g.de/wiki/images/e/ec/Td_en_Kevlar_guide.pdf
year: 2010
kind: datasheet
license: copy hosted by a third party, cited not reproduced
kevlar-sds:
title: KEVLAR Para-aramid Safety Data Sheet, Version 8.1 (Ref. 150000002634; revision 03/23/2023)
id: DuPont SDS, copy hosted by Easy Composites
url: https://media.easycomposites.co.uk/datasheets/Dupont-Kevlar-SDS-Ver8_1-23Mar2023.pdf
year: 2024
kind: datasheet
license: supplier safety data sheet, cited not reproduced
nasa-tp3473:
title: 'NASA Technical Paper 3473: Performance Study of Galactic Cosmic Ray Shield Materials'
id: Kim, Wilson, Thibeault, Nealy, Badavi, Kiefer, NASA TP 3473 (1994)
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19950010497/downloads/19950010497.pdf
year: 1994
kind: report
license: NASA public document
mdpi-barrier:
title: Study on the Aging Behavior of an Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber Barrier Net in a Marine Environment
id: Materials 15(16), 5599, doi 10.3390/ma15165599 (2022)
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15165599
year: 2022
kind: paper
license: open access (MDPI, CC BY)
manipal-carbon-aramid:
title: Experimental analysis of the effect of the woven aramid fabric on the in-plane tensile behaviour of carbon/epoxy laminates
id: Zachariah SA, Shenoy S, et al., Facta Universitatis, Series Mechanical Engineering (2024), Manipal open access archive
url: https://impressions.manipal.edu/open-access-archive/11369
year: 2024
kind: paper
license: open access (Manipal institutional archive)
pubchem-styrene:
title: 'PubChem: Styrene (CID 7501), GHS classification summary'
id: PubChem, National Center for Biotechnology Information
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7501
year: 2026
kind: database
license: PubChem public data
tivar-vmx-sds:
title: TIVAR VMX food-grade UHMW-PE safety data sheet (Boedeker copy, rev. Feb 2024)
id: Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials, SDS 1609-211004
url: https://www.boedeker.com/Portals/0/Safety%20Data%20Sheets%20SDS/MCAM/MCAM-TIVAR-VMX-FOOD-GRADE-UHMW-EN-SDS-1609-211004-feb-2024.pdf
year: 2024
kind: datasheet
license: safety data sheet, cited not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-26'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 29
unreachable: 3
caveats: 6
note: 'First write on 2026-10-26: 29 values read in this run from fetched papers, datasheets and the DuPont Kevlar guide. Not reached: Curv and Pure PP datasheets (blocked), commercial PE/PE datasheets, aramid laminate numbers. Caveats: the UHMWPE SRC values are lab-made samples of SGX fibre; TIVAR values are an unfilled matrix grade, not the SRC matrix; the Kevlar values are for yarn, not laminates; the 190 C PP value is read from text, not the figure; styrene hazards are for the monomer; the 0.01 percent water absorption is an upper limit.'
documents:
- title: On the Structural Peculiarities of Self-Reinforced Composite Materials Based on UHMWPE Fibers (Polymers 2021)
type: paper
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8123710
year: 2021
- title: Hybrid Self-Reinforced Composite Materials Based on UHMWPE (Materials 2020)
type: paper
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7178665
year: 2020
- title: The effect of draw ratio on the mechanical properties and crystalline structure of single polymer polypropylene composites (Polymer 2016)
type: paper
url: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/95612/7/DRpaper_resubmission.pdf
year: 2016
- title: TIVAR 1000 UHMW-PE material data sheet (Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.polymershapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Material_Data_TIVAR_1000_UHMW-PE.pdf
year: 2020
- title: Technical Guide for Kevlar Aramid Fiber (DuPont)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.r-g.de/wiki/images/e/ec/Td_en_Kevlar_guide.pdf
year: 2010
- title: KEVLAR Para-aramid Safety Data Sheet, Version 8.1
type: sds
url: https://media.easycomposites.co.uk/datasheets/Dupont-Kevlar-SDS-Ver8_1-23Mar2023.pdf
year: 2024
- title: 'NASA TP 3473: Performance Study of Galactic Cosmic Ray Shield Materials'
type: report
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19950010497/downloads/19950010497.pdf
year: 1994
- title: Study on the Aging Behavior of a UHMWPE Fiber Barrier Net in a Marine Environment (Materials 2022)
type: paper
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15165599
year: 2022
- title: Experimental analysis of the effect of woven aramid fabric on carbon/epoxy laminates (2024)
type: paper
url: https://impressions.manipal.edu/open-access-archive/11369
year: 2024
- title: 'PubChem: Styrene (CID 7501), GHS classification summary'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7501
year: 2026
- title: TIVAR VMX food-grade UHMW-PE safety data sheet (Boedeker copy)
type: sds
url: https://www.boedeker.com/Portals/0/Safety%20Data%20Sheets%20SDS/MCAM/MCAM-TIVAR-VMX-FOOD-GRADE-UHMW-EN-SDS-1609-211004-feb-2024.pdf
year: 2024
story:
recipe:
line: 'Self-reinforced composites are made by hot compaction of oriented fibres or tapes of one polymer. The surface of each fibre melts and, on cooling, forms an isotropic matrix around the unmelted core, which keeps its orientation and carries the load. The UHMWPE SRC in the sources was pressed from SGX fibre (220 dtex) at 155 to 170 C and 25 to 50 MPa, with the heating time 50 minutes and the moulding time 10 minutes. Aramid composites are different: the fibre is a reinforcement in a separate resin matrix, and the sources read here give no laminate recipe.'
parts:
- name: UHMWPE fibre (Dyneema SGX, 220 dtex)
share: Reinforcement; the paper gives no mass share, but the preserved fibre fraction is 88 percent at 155 C and 34 percent at 170 C
role: Carries the load along the fibre direction; the preserved fibre fraction sets the strength.
- name: Isotropic UHMWPE matrix (remelted fibre surface)
share: Crystallinity 92 percent at 155 C and 69 percent at 170 C, against 291 J/g for 100 percent crystalline UHMWPE
role: Bonds the fibres together and transfers load between them; the amount grows with compaction temperature.
compare_rows:
- scope: material
label: Strength along the fibres
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
- scope: material
label: Stiffness
benchmark: elastic_modulus
- scope: material
label: Density
benchmark: density
handling:
- Avoid dust formation when cutting, sanding or machining aramid or polyolefin composites. Use ventilation or vacuum cleaning.
- Wear safety glasses with side shields when working with aramid fibre dust.
- Keep aramid yarn away from fluorescent lamps and window glass, since UV discolours it and can reduce its strength.
- Check the SDS of the specific grade. TIVAR VMX is not GHS classified, while Kevlar is flagged for combustible dust.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
lead: The sources read here show low acute hazard for the polyolefin and aramid fibres, with dust as the main concern.
level: 1
verdict: Dust is the main concern
points:
- label: Dust in the workshop
line: Kevlar is classed for combustible dust, and the SDS advises avoiding dust formation. TIVAR VMX is not GHS classified but also advises avoiding dust.
- label: Styrene in vinyl ester resins
line: PubChem lists styrene as flammable and harmful if inhaled, a suspected reproductive hazard and a specific organ toxicant on repeated exposure. Check the resin SDS.
- title: If it fails
lead: The fibre direction decides the weak direction. The UHMWPE SRC is strong along the fibres and weak across them.
points:
- label: Loading across the fibres
line: The SRC gives 7.7 MPa across the fibres against 174.3 MPa along them, so layup decides how much of the strength a part can use.
- label: Heat during compaction
line: At 170 C only 34 percent of the fibres survive compaction, so the process window is narrow.
- label: UV on aramid
line: Unprotected aramid yarn yellows and can lose strength under UV. Shielding from UV is the mitigation the guide gives.
- title: Handling and storage
points:
- label: Keep it dry and shielded
line: Aramid moisture equilibrium is 3.5 percent for Kevlar 49 yarn from bone-dry state, so the yarn picks up moisture in use.
why: Self-reinforced composites give a light, recyclable laminate from one polymer family. The UHMWPE SRC reaches 174.3 MPa along the fibres with a density of about 1.0 g/cm3, and its matrix is an unfilled UHMW-PE that melts at 135 C. Para-aramid fibre gives the highest tensile values in this file, 3000 MPa and 112400 MPa for Kevlar 49 yarn, with a 1.44 g/cm3 density. Both systems are limited across the fibres and by heat or UV.
compare: The UHMWPE SRC is about four times as strong along the fibres as the unfilled UHMW-PE sheet (174.3 MPa against 40.0 MPa), and its density of about 1.0 g/cm3 is well below the 1.44 g/cm3 of Kevlar 49 yarn. The Kevlar yarn is about 17 times stronger than the SRC along the fibres (3000 MPa against 174.3 MPa), but the figures are for a single fibre bundle against a lab-made composite, so they are not directly comparable.
can_do:
- where: Structures
line: The SRC is made into flat plates by hot compaction, and the sources report 110.2 to 117.3 MPa in flexure at 155 to 170 C.
label: Property
- where: Radiation shielding
line: Polyethylene (neat) is named in NASA work as an effective galactic cosmic ray shield, because of its high hydrogen content.
label: Use
good_for:
- Light structural parts where strength is needed along one direction and recyclability matters.
- Radiation shielding in polyethylene form, with the SRC as a route to a stiffer polyethylene part (not tested in the sources here).
watch_out:
- Compaction temperature sets the reinforcement left in the part. Near 170 C, most of the fibres melt.
- Across-fibre strength is about 7.7 MPa for the SRC, far below the along-fibre value.
- Aramid yarn needs UV shielding and dust control.
verdict: Strong along the fibre and recyclable in principle, but weak across it and sensitive to compaction temperature; the aramid values are for the fibre, and laminate data for the aramid systems is still missing.
uses:
- where: Structural plates
line: The UHMWPE SRC is pressed into flat plates in the lab, with the authors framing it as a lightweight alternative to carbon and glass composites.
- where: Radiation shielding
line: NASA TP 3473 tests polyethylene as a galactic cosmic ray shield and quotes Shinn et al. calling it effective because of its short nuclear absorption lengths.
- where: Carbon-aramid hybrid laminates
line: Woven aramid fibre is added to carbon-epoxy laminates as a high-strain layer, which the authors study for in-plane tensile behaviour and, in the cited literature, for impact strength.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.