Teijin Aramid introduced its latest unidirectional laminate fabric, Twaron UD41 at the A+A show in Dusseldorf yesterday, which has been specially developed for bulletproof vests to provide extra protection from different types of attack.

Twaron UD41 is aimed at groups such as soldiers or police units, and even private citizens who require such protection.

According to Teijin Aramid, the new fabric, which is based on the high performance Twaron para-aramid fibre, makes it possible to produce hybrid protective vests that are not only able to withstand bullets and bullet fragments, but also other forms of assault, such as stabbing.

"The new product means that bulletproof vests are lighter in weight and offer greater flexibility and comfort than standard bulletproof vests without any concessions in terms of quality, protection or performance," Teijin Aramid said in a statement yesterday.

Twaron UD41 is a so-called unidirectional laminate, made up of four layers of Twaron fibre yarns. The special 0°/90°/0°/90° configuration of the layers ensures that the strength of the fibres is used to optimal effect and prevent the material from shrinking.

The company says its smart UD technology guarantees that the Twaron fibres are parallel in every layer. Teijin says each layer is individually constructed in the resin matrix and a thermoplastic film is completely laminated over the four UD layers, thereby providing maximum protection and preventing wear and tear. UD41 can be used in combination with other Twaron products for extra strength and performance.

Twaron UD41 is Teijin Aramid's response to the demand for lightweight ballistic protection, which the company says is the result of the increasing threat of violence in society. Teijin says current trends are towards lightweight and comfortable vests that comply with strict safety regulations.

In addition, the large number of new or amended safety restrictions, which involve combined protection against bullets and stabbing, require advanced hybrid solutions, the company says. Twaron UD41 has been tested in accordance with NIJ 01.01.06 requirements.