Chemical Resistance

Vectran™ fiber has good strength retention in chemical exposures covering a wide range of aggressive chemicals,concentrations, exposure times,and temperatures.The fiber is resistant to organic solvents, some acids of >90%concentration, and bases of <30% concentration. Specific exposure results are provided in Table 8.

Chemical resistance is an important consideration in protective apparel use, garment care, and upkeep. Bleach resistance, strength retention,and dimensional stability (i.e.,shrinkage) determine the launderability of protective garments, which, ofcourse, affects the cost and performance of safety wear. For example, H MPE fibers are sensitive to high temperatures associated with drying, while Vectran™ offers minimal shrinkage in hot water or air (Table 3). Figure 10 demonstrates Vectran’s superior bleach resistance compared to aramid fiber. Vectran™ fiber’s dimensional and chemical stability simplifygarment care and further allow the use of chlorine as a cleaning agent in various applications.