The lightweight unidirectional composite offers production economies and improved performance

A hard ballistic lightweight composite has been developed by DSM Dyneema to provide multi-hit ballistic protection, flame retardance and heat resistance in military and civilian protective applications.

The new HB26 material is lighter than conventional product offerings, cuts handling time by half and speeds up production, according to the company. The high-strength polyethylene fibre composite provides good protection against ballistic threats, including assault rifles such as the AK47 and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Danish composite protection solution manufacturer Roshield has tested the HB26 material in vehicle protection for the Danish armed forces. According to the company’s managing director Peter Bertelsen, in live ammunition testing, the material was found to provide better protection in terms of weight and performance than existing alternatives.

Dyneema HB26 is a unidirectional non-woven composite, comprised of several layers of fibres. The unidirectional configuration is claimed to allow energy to be distributed along the fibres faster and more efficiently than in conventional woven fabrics.