TECHNICAL YARNS
Ribbons has the capacity to produce technical narrow fibre products to meet customer specifications. These technical yarns have the benefit of being lightweight whilst still offering exceptionally high tensile strengths, making them suitable for a diverse range of applications.
Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres
Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), also known as High-Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) and often manufactured under the brand of Dyneema®, is considered to be one of the worlds’ strongest fibres. UHMWPE yarn offers a soft, lightweight, high tensile fibre that is up to 15 times stronger than steel.
Properties of UHMPE
- Exceptionally strong; up to 15 times stronger than steel and 40% stronger than aramid fibres
- Very lightweight
- Fire resistant (FR)
- Abrasion resistant
- Cut resistant
- UV resistant
- Weather resistant
- Flexible
- Durable
- Chemical resistant; good resistance to acids/bases
Applications include
- Armour and tactical gear in the military and emergency services
- Ropes, nets and towing lines in the fishing and shipping industry
- Ropes, cords and lifting slings in industry, rescue services and sport and leisure
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Fall protection harnesses when working at height and in sport and leisure
- Protective sleeving
Aramid fibres, often produced under the brand name Kevlar®, are high tensile fibres known for cold resistant, heat resistant and scratch resistant properties. 5 times stronger than steel, aramid fibres have a high tensile strength whilst being lightweight.
Properties of Aramid Fibres
- Strong; up to 5 times stronger than steel
- Lightweight
- Fire resistant (FR)
- Extremely high heat resistance; degrades at 426-482 degrees Celsius
- Abrasion resistant
- Flexible
- Chemically resistant in certain environments
- Controlled elongation
- Generally affected by UV light; colour and strength can degrade with prolonged exposure
Common Applications
- Armour and tactical gear in the military and emergency services
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Sport and leisure, for example paraglider suspension lines
- Ropes and cables
- Protective sleeves for optical fibre cables
- Mooring lines and other underwater applications in the marine industry
Dyneema®
An Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHWMPE), Dyneema® is considered to be one of the worlds’ strongest fibres. Its properties offer a light weight, high tensile fibre that is up to 15 times stronger than steel. It is fire resistant, weather resistant and can be utilised in any application that requires high strength performance from a product that is soft, light and highly resistant to abrasion and cutting.
Applications include
- Armour and tactical gear in the military and emergency services
- Ropes, nets and towing lines in the fishing and shipping industry
- Ropes, cords and lifting slings in industry, rescue services and sport and leisure
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Fall protection harnesses when working at height and in sport and leisure
- Protective sleeving
KEVLAR
Kevlar is a high tensile fibre known for its cold resistant, heat resistant and scratch resistant properties. 5 times stronger than steel, it has a high tensile strength whilst being lightweight.
Common Applications
- Armour and tactical gear in the military and emergency services
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Sport and leisure, for example paraglider suspension lines
- Ropes and cables
- Protective sleeves for optical fibre cables
- Mooring lines and other underwater applications in the marine industry
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Ribbons is fully certified to ISO 9001:20015 standard, offering full quality assurance to our customers. Our expert design team work closely with manufacturers of seatbelt restraint systems and child safety harnesses. Our fully equipped laboratory offers in house testing to customer requirements. All our seatbelt webbings are manufactured to strict international directives and safety specifications.
Contact a member of our experienced team to discuss your requirements
Get In Touch
Can’t see what you’re looking for? Our research and development team work closely with customers on product innovation. Call a member of our team to discuss your requirements.
Address
Treorchy Industrial Estate,
Mid Glamorgan, CF42 6EJ
Call Us
Tel: +44 (0) 1443 432 473
Fax: +44 (0) 1443 437 413