Heathcoat Fabrics, a British technical textiles manufacturer, has selected Honeywell’s Spectra fibre to produce a new range of textiles designed for military and industrial applications. The textiles are suitable for a variety of end use applications in which the product must be strong enough to withstand high-performance situations, yet light and comfortable enough for everyday wear, the company reports.

Today’s proliferating demand of high-performance materials is a trend seen across multiple industries ranging from defence to sports to fashion. In an increasingly active and mobile world, Heathcoat Fabrics is developing a range to meet the growing need for fabrics that combine strength properties, such as abrasion resistance with protection properties, such as cut and moisture resistance, all while staying lightweight and comfortable for wearers.

“Through our collaboration with Honeywell, our customers will now have access to the same groundbreaking technology that protects soldiers, police officers and factory workers. Our R&D specialists have worked towards finding the best solution for a revolutionary textiles range. We are committed to working with industry leaders like Honeywell to create textiles that exceed our customers’ diverse needs.”

High-performance protection

Spectra is used by militaries and law enforcement personnel around the world in body armour, tactical clothing and vehicles. In industrial settings, such as food preparation and manufacturing, Spectra protects workers through garments that provide some of the industry’s highest levels of slash and cut resistance.

“Spectra represents breakthrough innovation in high-performance technology.  When we began developing textiles that could be used across military and industrial applications, we needed a fibre that had an industry-leading combination of strength, comfort and light weight. We found those properties in Spectra,” commented John Stimpson, Business Manager for Woven Industrial Solutions.

Strong and light

Pound for pound, Spectra is said to be 15 times stronger than steel, yet light enough to float. It is made from ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. “Spectra is one of the most versatile fibres in the world, capable of protecting people from a range of potential obstacles and threats while also being flexible enough to wear every day,” said Shari Litow, Senior Marketing Manager, Packaging and Composites at Honeywell.

“Honeywell’s scientists have worked extensively in R&D to ensure that Spectra is the next-generation solution for high-performance products that keep people safe, mobile and comfortable.”

www.heathcoat.co.uk