Vectran
Encyclopedia
Vectran is a manufactured fibre, spun from a liquid crystal polymer
created by Celanese
Acetate LLC and now manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.
Chemically it is an aromatic polyester
produced by the polycondensation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid
and 6-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid.
, and good chemical stability. They are moisture resistant and are generally stable in hostile environments. They have gold color. They are often used in combination with some polyester
as a coating around Vectran core; polyurethane
coating can improve abrasion
resistance and act as a water barrier. Vectran has melting point of 330 °C, with progressive strength loss from 220 °C. As it has high resistance to ultraviolet radiation, it can be used outside for long term, if inspected regularly.
s, cable
s, sailcloth
, and advanced composite material
s, professional bike tires, and in electronics applications. Perhaps most notably, Vectran is used as one of the five layers in NASA's Extravehicular Mobility Unit (spacesuit) designed by Hamilton Sundstrand
and was the fabric used for the airbags on the Mars Pathfinder
in 1997
and on the twin Mars Exploration Rover
s Spirit and Opportunity missions in 2004, which allowed those craft to "soft land" on Mars.
The material is expected to be used again on NASA's 2011 Mars Science Laboratory
in the bridle cables.
Vectran is also used in a line of inflatable spacecraft developed by Bigelow Aerospace
, two of which, Genesis I and Genesis II
(launched in 2006 and 2007, respectively) are still operating nominally as of 2009 after more than 10,000 orbits and traveling over 270 million miles each. Multiple layers of Vectran will be used in the Bigelow Sundancer
expandable spacecraft, being assembled in Nevada during 2010, and the Bigelow BA-330 spacecraft which NASA
"is considering connecting ... to the ISS
to verify their safety by testing life support, radiation shielding, thermal control and communications capabilities."
Vectran fibres are also used in manufacturing badminton strings such as Yonex BG-85 and BG-80.
began manufacturing Vectran in 1990. , Kuraray has owned 100% of the worldwide Vectran production since 2005 when they acquired the Vectran business from Celanese Advanced Materials Inc. (CAMI), based in South Carolina
, U.S.
The total capacity of Vectran expanded from about 600 ton
s/yr in 2007 to 1000 tons/yr in 2008.
Liquid crystal polymer
Liquid-crystal polymers are a class of aromatic polyester polymers. They are extremely unreactive and inert, and highly resistant to fire.-Background:...
created by Celanese
Celanese
Celanese Corporation is a Fortune 500 global technology and specialty materials company with its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. The company is a leading producer of acetyl products, which are intermediate chemicals for nearly all major industries, and is the world's largest producer of vinyl...
Acetate LLC and now manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.
Kuraray
is a Japanese manufacturer of chemicals, fibers and other materials founded in Kurashiki, Okayama, but based in Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo and Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka . , Kuraray was the sole worldwide producer of Vectran liquid crystal polymer fibre....
Chemically it is an aromatic polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
produced by the polycondensation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid is a monohydroxybenzoic acid, a phenolic derivative of benzoic acid. It is a white crystalline solid that is slightly soluble in water and chloroform but more soluble in polar organic solvents such as alcohols and acetone...
and 6-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid.
Properties
These fibres are noted for thermal stability at high temperatures, high strength and modulus, low creepCreep (deformation)
In materials science, creep is the tendency of a solid material to slowly move or deform permanently under the influence of stresses. It occurs as a result of long term exposure to high levels of stress that are below the yield strength of the material....
, and good chemical stability. They are moisture resistant and are generally stable in hostile environments. They have gold color. They are often used in combination with some polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
as a coating around Vectran core; polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
coating can improve abrasion
Abrasion (mechanical)
Abrasion is the process of scuffing, scratching, wearing down, marring, or rubbing away. It can be intentionally imposed in a controlled process using an abrasive...
resistance and act as a water barrier. Vectran has melting point of 330 °C, with progressive strength loss from 220 °C. As it has high resistance to ultraviolet radiation, it can be used outside for long term, if inspected regularly.
Usage
They are used as reinforcing (matrix) fibres for ropeRope
A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...
s, cable
Cable
A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables are used to carry...
s, sailcloth
Sailcloth
Sails have been made from cloth for all of recorded history. Typically sails were made from flax , hemp or cotton in various forms including canvas. However, modern sails are rarely made from natural fibers. Most sails are made from synthetic fibers ranging from low-cost nylon or polyester to...
, and advanced composite material
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
s, professional bike tires, and in electronics applications. Perhaps most notably, Vectran is used as one of the five layers in NASA's Extravehicular Mobility Unit (spacesuit) designed by Hamilton Sundstrand
Hamilton Sundstrand
Hamilton Sundstrand, is a global corporation that manufactures and supports aerospace and industrial products for worldwide markets. It was formed from the merger of Hamilton Standard and Sundstrand Corporation in 1999. A subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, HS is headquartered in Windsor...
and was the fabric used for the airbags on the Mars Pathfinder
Mars Pathfinder
Mars Pathfinder was an American spacecraft that landed a base station with roving probe on Mars in 1997. It consisted of a lander, renamed the Carl Sagan Memorial Station, and a lightweight wheeled robotic rover named Sojourner.Launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II booster a...
in 1997
and on the twin Mars Exploration Rover
Mars Exploration Rover
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission is an ongoing robotic space mission involving two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, exploring the planet Mars...
s Spirit and Opportunity missions in 2004, which allowed those craft to "soft land" on Mars.
The material is expected to be used again on NASA's 2011 Mars Science Laboratory
Mars Science Laboratory
The Mars Science Laboratory is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission with the aim to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars. The MSL was launched November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST and is scheduled to land on Mars at Gale Crater between August 6 and 20, 2012...
in the bridle cables.
Vectran is also used in a line of inflatable spacecraft developed by Bigelow Aerospace
Bigelow Aerospace
Bigelow Aerospace is a North Las Vegas, Nevada space technology startup company that is pioneering work on expandable space station modules. Bigelow Aerospace was founded by Robert Bigelow in 1998...
, two of which, Genesis I and Genesis II
Genesis II
Genesis II is a 1973 American TV film created and produced by Gene Roddenberry and directed by John Llewellyn Moxey.It opens with the line, "My name is Dylan Hunt...
(launched in 2006 and 2007, respectively) are still operating nominally as of 2009 after more than 10,000 orbits and traveling over 270 million miles each. Multiple layers of Vectran will be used in the Bigelow Sundancer
Sundancer
Sundancer is the proposed third prototype space habitat to be launched by Bigelow Aerospace and the first human-rated expandable module based on TransHab technology acquired from NASA...
expandable spacecraft, being assembled in Nevada during 2010, and the Bigelow BA-330 spacecraft which NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
"is considering connecting ... to the ISS
ISS
The ISS is the International Space Station.ISS may also refer to:* I See Stars, an American electronic rock band* ISS A/S, a Danish service company* Idea Star Singer, a Malayalam music reality show by Asianet TV...
to verify their safety by testing life support, radiation shielding, thermal control and communications capabilities."
Vectran fibres are also used in manufacturing badminton strings such as Yonex BG-85 and BG-80.
Production
Kuraray Co., Ltd.Kuraray
is a Japanese manufacturer of chemicals, fibers and other materials founded in Kurashiki, Okayama, but based in Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo and Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka . , Kuraray was the sole worldwide producer of Vectran liquid crystal polymer fibre....
began manufacturing Vectran in 1990. , Kuraray has owned 100% of the worldwide Vectran production since 2005 when they acquired the Vectran business from Celanese Advanced Materials Inc. (CAMI), based in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
The total capacity of Vectran expanded from about 600 ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s/yr in 2007 to 1000 tons/yr in 2008.
See also
- PolyesterPolyesterPolyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
- AramidAramidAramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in bicycle tires, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a portmanteau of "aromatic polyamide"...
- TwaronTwaronTwaron is the brandname of Teijin Aramid for a para-aramid. It is a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibre developed in the early 1970s by the Dutch company AKZO, division Enka, later Akzo Industrial Fibers. The research name of the para-aramid fibre was originally Fiber X, but it was soon...
- KevlarKevlarKevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
- Carbon fiberCarbon fiberCarbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
- Nike FlywireNike FlywireNike Flywire is a thread, composed of Vectran, and developed by Nike, used in the upper of a shoe. The goal of Flywire is to minimize weight and maximize support. Shoes containing Flywire became available for consumer purchase in 2008.-Development:...
- VectraVectra (plastic)Vectra is a brand of Liquid Crystal Polymer manufactured by Ticona Physical properties of Vectra were tested in the report "Non-Metallic Transducer Mounting Brackets" by the US Naval Research Laboratory in 1992, and the resulting test data is publicly available from the external link...