Do you have any questions ?
+ 33 (0)3 20 23 40 44
contact@imattec.com
Do you have any questions ?
+ 33 (0)3 20 23 40 44
contact@imattec.com
Index :
Vectran® is the property of the Japanese company Kuraray and is processed by IMATTEC. This polymer is based on LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) technology. IMATTEC, as a specialist in advanced technical textiles, has chosen to promote Vectran® for its many qualities and high levels of performance. For almost 20 years, IMATTEC has developed a unique know-how in the use, transformation and spinning of the Vectran® fibre. All of this is possible thanks to the development of dedicated production lines adaptable to almost all the demands of this unique fibre named LCP Vectran®.
Just as aramid is a polyamide whose polymer chain contains aromatic "ar-amide" nuclei, Vectran® (LCP) is a polyester with aromatic nuclei. We can say that it is an "ar-ester". This cyclic molecular structure brings high resistance and performance to Vectran® in the same way it is for polyamide (in the case of aramid).
About 30% more efficient than aramid, it also has excellent resistance to fatigue (torsion, folding).
It also provides very high levels of resistance to cutting, creep, tearing and abrasion, even under thermal stress : in hot conditions up to 250°C, as well as cold situations up to cryogenic temperatures.
In some applications, particularly in composites, the fibre provides vibration damping as well as impact resistance.
Thermally, what best characterises Vectran® is its resistance to thermal fatigue. As Vectran® is a thermofusible fibre, its resistance decreases with increasing temperature (like all polymers). However, Vectran® recovers all these mechanical performances when the temparture is back to normal, unlike aramids, for example. When exposed to low temperatures, its tensile strength increases (+20% at -80°C).
Vectran® is resistant to detergents and absorbs extremely little moisture. Its chemical resistance enables the use in hostile environments, as well as maintenance with harsh products.
Bleach, for example, affects aramids but not Vectran®.
Vectran® is the perfect fibre for technical textile when thermal, mechanical and chemical performance are required. This fibre surpasses para-aramids (Kevlar, Twaron,...) as well as HDPE (Dyneema,...).
Vectran® is the ideal fibre when durability under mechanical and thermal constraints is required, such as for conveyor belts in the food industry, which can go from hot (cooking) to cold (freezing) while remaining subject to bending and tensile stress, or as in the aerospace industry, where the variation of temperatures can be problematic for certain textile materials...
In combination with other fibres and yarns (luminescent yarns, retroreflective yarns, metals, glass, etc.) within a textile, the fields of application of Vectran® are further extended.
Due to their excellent chemical resistance, textiles based on Vectran® are an ideal candidate for the manufacture of work and personal protective equipment, which require repeated and sustained washing while retaining their properties for as long as possible.
Vectran® liquid crystal polymer (LCP) fibre has been developed for airbag systems in the automotive and aviation industries. It has excellent breaking and cut resistance, is flexible and - in contrast to aramid - maintains these properties even under permanent stress
Personal protection (gloves for industry, cut resistant gloves for butchers, clothing...)
Army (ballistic protection,...)
Aerospace (composites, space parachutes...)
Sport and leisure (bow ropes, sail ropes...)
Building ( anti-vandalism, tear-resistant,...)
Industry (lifting belts...)
Food industry (conveyor belts...)
Transport (tarpaulins, high-pressure hose reinforcements, tyres...)
IMATTEC transforms and processes Vectran® HT and UM fibres into cut fibres and pulps to be used as fillers (plastics, paper, elastomers, composites, ...).
IMATTEC's spinning mill provides yarns and threads in pure or blended (multifilaments, spun yarns, blends, coverings, twists, cabling).
IMATTEC also offers a service of taylor-made development and production of fabrics ( woven, knitted, braided, tubular, tapes, belts...) 100% Vectran® or combined, as well as a wide range of made to measure finished articles to meet your particular needs (gloves, potholders, mittens, armbands, socks, sleeves, cuffs...). Please contact us!
