High Performance Fiber

There exist a wide variety of fibers with widely ranging properties. Fibers are said to be either commodity or high performance. Commodity fibers are typically used in a highly competitive price environment which translates into large scale high volume programs in order to compensate for the (often) low margins. Conversely, high performance fibers are driven by special technical functions that require specific physical properties unique to these fiber.

ADVANTAGES:-

High performance fibers and high temperature resistant fibers offer numerous advantages over traditional materials. Higher strength, lighter weight, higher operating temperatures and flame-retardant ability are some of the most prominent features of these fibers. These are specifically engineered for specific uses that require exceptional strength, stiffness, heat resistance, or chemical resistance. A major advantage of high strength fibers over steel, for example, is the superior strength-to-weight ratio that such fibers can offer.

Para-aramid fiber offers 6-8 times higher tensile strength and over twice the modulus of steel, at only one-fifth the weight, but in applications where strength is not of paramount importance, other properties must be evaluated.

USES:-

High-performance fiber are used in an increasing number of markets – from Aerospace & Defense, Medical, Automotive, Sporting Goods, Alternative Energy, Electronics, Construction and Infrastructure and a number of other segments.

High-performance fibers are deemed as important strategic materials. Notably, aramid fiber, carbon fiber and high-strength PE fiber are the most widely applied high-performance fibers with the most impressive comprehensive performance.

Aramid Fibers are closely related to nylon and have high strength, good resistance to abrasion, good resistance to organic solvents, non-conductive, low flammability and good fabric integrity at elevated temperatures. These are used in aerospace & military applications, bicycle tires and as an asbestos substitute.

Glass fibers are the oldest high performance fibers. These are the most important reinforcement materials used in fiber reinforced plastics, as these offer a range of desirable properties such as low weight, high strength, high modulus, impact resistance, and chemical and electrical resistance. Glass fiber reinforced plastics are employed in various applications due to these characteristics.

PBI (polybenzimidazole) is another fiber that takes advantage of the high stability of conjugated aromatic structures to produce high thermal resistance. The ladder-like structure of the polymer further increases the thermal stability.

Carbon fiber characterizes outstanding mechanical property and chemical stability but weak toughness, being widely applied in industry, sports goods, aviation and aerospace, etc

Costs:-

The relative costs of glass, HDPE and carbon fibers is less, whereas that of PBI and PTFE is higher. PBI is noted for its high cost, due both to high raw material costs and a demanding manufacturing process. The cost of PBI fiber is over $70/lb.

The global High-performance fibers market is valued at 9 billion USD in 2014, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% till 2020. The worldwide aramid fiber capacities concentrate in a minority of businesses in the US, Japan and China