Aramid
Aramids are polymers. The name stands for aromatic polyamide. Structurally aramids are similar to proteins.
Overview
Stephanie Kwolek developed aramids at DuPont in 1965. DuPont uses the trade name Kevlar for them.
Aramids are very present in security helmets, in splinter-resistant glass, in Ballistic vests. They are used as a replacement for asbestos as a building material, for gaskets and other sealings, but also as helpers to make sails, parachutes and similar tools.
Chemistry
Aramids are a condensation polymer made from aromatic compounds connected by amide functional groups. The usual ingredients used to make aramids are an aromatic diamine and aromatic diacyl chloride, such as p-phenylenediamine and terephthaloyl chloride.
Aramid Media
Spools of aramid yarn destined for body armor
Fiberglass–aramid hybrid cloth
Structure of Twaron and Kevlar. The aromatic rings appear as hexagons. The rings are attached alternately to either two NH groups or two CO groups. The attachment points on each ring are diametrically opposite each other, a characteristic of the structure called para-aramid.
De aramiden zijn een groep polymeren (meer bepaald polyamiden met aromatisch karakter) die hittebestendig zijn en/of een grote treksterkte hebben. Dit staal is van het merk Kevlar en geproduceerd door DuPont. De best bekende toepassing is in kogelwerende vesten en andere beschermende kleding.
Display of aramid and carbon fiber products at the Textielmuseum in Tilburg. Clockwise from top right: combined aramid–carbon fiber braided textile, various carbon-fiber-reinforced composites, carbon yarn and woven textile, aramid Twaron glove, braided glass fiber cable with aramid core, aramid yarn.
Aramid-Prozess
Aramid anchor rope used on board the MV Bornholm in the port of Delfzijl, June 2006
