Kevlar is a material formed by combining para-phenylenediamine and

terephthaloyl chloride. Aromatic polyamide (aramid) threads are the result. They
are further refined, by dissolving the threads and spinning them into regular
fibres. When woven, Kevlar forms a strong and flexible material. If layers of the
woven Kevlar are combined with layers of resin, the resulting rigid material is
light and has twenty times the strength of steel. It is also superior to specialist
metal alloys. However, Kevlar is expensive due to the demands of the
manufacturing process and the need for specialist equipment
There are three main types of Kevlar.

1. Kevlar is used as a reinforcement material for some car tyres and bicycle
tyres. It helps dramatically reduce puncture rates.

This standard of tyre is more expensive than ordinary road tyres. They are of
particular use with 4 x 4 vehicles, especially when the vehicle is being used off
road and far away from recovery services.







2. Kevlar 29 is used in the manufacture of body armour (panels) for lightweight military vehicles. A good example is
the US Armys Bradley Fighting Vehicle. This has been used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kevlar 29
was selected for its armour, because it is lightweight and withstands attack from RPGs. The Kevlar 29 panels protect the
soldiers inside the vehicle.

Kevlar 29 is ideal because it is lightweight and non-flammable and it offers protection from high temperatures (fire bombs,
Molotov cocktails etc...). Kevlar 29 can also withstand the harsh environmental conditions, found in hot climates.

3. Kevlar 49 is used for specialist boat hulls and in the aerospace industry. It is popular as a material for boats because it is
lightweight and can withstand a considerable amount of force (torque - twisting force), tensile stress and impact. Hulls
manufactured from traditional materials, such as fibreglass, are limited in their resistance to forces and stress. Also, a
lightweight boat is faster on the water and uses less fuel to complete distances.

Eurofighter is relatively light compared to other similar fighter jets, due to the selection of Kevlar 49 as a material in its
manufacture. This means that it can fly faster and further, before in-flight refuelling is needed. It is more agile than its rivals
due to excellent force (torque - twisting force) and tensile stress resistance. The plane is more likely to survive being hit by
small arms fire, compared to other fighter planes, as Kevlar 49 has excellent impact resistance.



The basic unit
Kevlar is a polymer; this means that it is made up of a large number
of the same basic unit, called a monomer, which are attached to each
other to form a long chain. The monomer in this case is made up of an
amide group and a phenyl group.
Kevlar is a polyamide, a type of synthetic polymer, in which the
amide groups are separated by para phenylene groups, meaning that the
amide groups are attached to each other on opposite sides of the phenyl
group (i.e. carbons 1 and 4).


Polymer structure
The large phenyl groups separating the amides cause the polymer of
Kevlar to nearly always form the trans conformation, where the phenyl
groups arrange themselves so that they are on opposite sides of the rigid
amide bond:


This is caused by the phenyl groups to be too large to fit on the same side
of the bond, as there would be great steric hindrance between the
hydrogen atoms:
The hydrogens are too
close together in the cis
conformation

In the
trans
conform
ation
there is
much
more
room,
and so
less
hindranc
e.




This situation where all the monomers connect in a trans conformation,
means that very long straight chains are formed, making an almost
ideal fibre, and allowing it such a wide range of uses.