DSM DYNEEMA INTRODUCES DYNEEMA® SB71

New material grade advances soft ballistics with minimum weight and maximum performance

The Netherlands, October 17, 2011 - DSM Dyneema has announced the global introduction of a new innovative light weight ballistic material for use in Law Enforcement and Military protective vests. High performance Dyneema® SB71, a unidirectional (UD) grade made of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber from DSM Dyneema, was specifically designed and developed for use in ballistic vests certified under NIJ0101.06. Vests made with SB71 combine lowest possible weight with the highest protection performance. The new material advances the protection level achievable with Soft Ballistic (SB) armor by building on a new technology platform first established with Dyneema® SB51 from DSM Dyneema in 2010.

SB71 facilitates protective concepts for the lightest, most comfortable and most demanding vest applications in the range of UD grades available from DSM Dyneema. It is suited for vest designs that meet the NIJ06 standard as well as other law enforcement and military standards,

Dyneema® SB71 can also be combined with trauma liners and stab resistance solutions in vests designed to meet various international standards. Furthermore, it can be used both in tactical and concealed vest designs. It also enables vests to be designed with low Back Face Signature while remaining thin, light and comfortable.

The SB71 UD grade further expands DSM Dyneema’s already strong portfolio of products based on Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, and builds on the success already achieved in this market with its UD grades SB51, SB31 and SB21.

According to Ernst Jan van Klinken, Global Marketing Director at DSM Dyneema, SB71 sets a new standard in light weight and therefore user comfort: “The new material meets the NIJ0101.06 standards along solutions made with other Dyneema® UD grades, but with an average 15% weight saving. And moreover, all the other Dyneema® UD grade based solutions are already lighter than other non-PE vest solutions.”

SB71, which can be used to design vests meeting NIJ06 specification, has been developed in close cooperation with body armor manufacturers. Van Klinken says: “The main advantages of Dyneema® SB71 for body armor manufacturers include reductions in costs, time and material. Ease of handling leads to time and cost reductions, with less time being spent in material lay-up and cutting. And with less material being required, the environmental benefits are significant too.”

The new grade has high durability and resistance to moisture, UV rays and chemicals, characteristics inherent to UHMWPE fiber from DSM Dyneema. Moreover, vests can be easily upgraded to protect against heavier rifle fire using class-leading inserts made with Dyneema®.

During development, the material was extensively tested by several global customers and end-users against a wide range of threats and environmental conditions and passed all stringent tests, outperforming other materials. Commander Mr. Rosso, Bureau of Weapons and Technical Materials (BAMT) French National Police said: "The new SB71 material was extensively tested by the French National Police against a wide range of threats for Law Enforcement officers. It passed all our stringent tests. Also the performance of this Dyneema® material during the environmental conditioning testing, including high temperatures, meets with our approval."

SB71 has demonstrated that it meets the strictest requirements for ballistic protection. A key benefit is its low weight, which provides the wearer with maximum comfort, without making concessions in terms of wearer safety.

Also Ms Paulette Ogilvie, General Manager and Director for Tote Systems Australia Pty Ltd said “Dyneema® SB71 is the next generation of High Performance light weight bullet resistant materials, providing excellent bullet resistance. With SB71, we are creating a new range of Law Enforcement and Military Protective Body Armour, specifically for the Australian Army, at the lightest weights to meet NIJ threat levels. Our NIJ04 level 3A model is less than 4.5kg/m².”

Ernst Jan van Klinken concludes: “As DSM Dyneema continues to develop innovative solutions for personal protection, we remain committed to optimize our product offering and our value proposition to customers across the globe.”

SB71 is available now world-wide. For more details, please visit www.lifeprotection.dyneema.com.

About DSM Dyneema
DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® is an Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® fiber floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel.
UHMWPE fiber from DSM Dyneema is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com and www.lifeprotection.dyneema.com.

DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM’s 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of over €9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.

Dyneema® and Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™ are trademarks of Royal DSM. Use of these trademarks is prohibited unless strictly authorized.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Anouk Luykx
Lelyweg 6
4612 PS, Bergen op Zoom
The Netherlands

This release was published on openPR.