Aramid material
Kevlar®, Nomex®, Apyeil®, Twaron® - to name but
a few well known brands,
are all made from same generic compound, this is Aramid.
Aramids are aromatic Polyamids with astonishing qualities:
- heat resistent
- flame proof
- low thermic shrink
- not melting and dripping
- no melting point
- durable for organic soluble liquids
- stands up to a high level of friction
- low breach extension
- self extinguishing
- emits very little smoke
- retains dimensions
- stands up to most chemicals
- not conductive
- not brittle at low temperatures
There are two different kinds of Aramid
fibres. The difference comes from means of production.
m-Aramid is made using a dry-spin technique,
p-Aramid follows the wet-spin method.
Kevlar®, for example, is made from p-Aramid
and was discovered by the female scientist, Stephanie Kwolek,
in Northern Ireland 1965.
More features to consider about Aramid:
- like other organic fibres, Aramid decomposes
under U.V. light. Kept in sunlight for approximately 15 weeks,
it looses it´s tensile strength by a factor of 50% - concentrated acids and alkalines, especially in high temperatures, cause the Aramid to disintegrate
This means all juggling equipment made from Aramid should
be stored carefully away from sunlight,
even when it is used and charred.
