Technora black, Teijin’s strong and flame-retardant para-aramid fibre, has been selected for use in the back panel of the newest Aquos Zero, Sharp’s flagship smartphone model, which was released last week.

The new Aquos Zero, which weigh just 146g, have a plastic back panel reinforced with Technora black and a frame made of magnesium alloy. “It will be the world’s lightest smartphone in a class of 6-inch screen and a battery capacity rated above 3,000mAh which supporting waterproof (over IPX5),” the manufacturer reports.

Teijin’s Technora para-aramid fibre is designed to be eight times stronger than steel, as well as highly heat- and shock-resistant, making it an ideal material for broad applications ranging from rope, timing belts, racing car seats and car hoods to spacecraft, according to the company. Technora black is increasingly being adopted for outdoor use, such as firefighting clothing and yacht sails, owing to its weather-resistance driven from its colour by adding black pigments to Technora in spinning process.

“Aramid fibre reinforced plastic is expected to contribute to the development of advanced, extra-high-speed mobile devices due to its light weight, electric insulation and dielectric constant property for minimized electromagnetic interference. Technora black is especially suitable for smartphones thanks to its weather resistance and attractive appearance, in addition to its many core features,” the company says.

“Going forward, Teijin will continue to introduce highly functional materials and solutions in diverse fields, to be a company that supports the society of the future as a long-term vision.”

Teijin is a technology-driven group offering advanced solutions in the areas of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibres such as aramid, carbon fibres and composites, healthcare, films, resin and plastic processing, polyester fibres, products converting and IT. The group has some 170 companies and around 19,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide.

www.teijin.com