DuPont Protection Solutions (DuPont) announced an extension and expansion of research currently under contract to the U.S. Army Program Executive Office - Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment Project to develop next generation DuPont™ Tensylon® solid-state extruded ultrahigh molecular-weight polyethylene films.
Since acquiring the technology in 2012, DuPont has invested in product and applications development for Tensylon®, which has resulted in growing sales in hard-armor plates, shields and other protective equipment for law enforcement, tactical, SWAT and emergency response personnel around the world. This latest research is aimed at improving the performance of Tensylon® in law enforcement and military applications and increases this specific contract value to more than $1 million.
“We are grateful for the support for additional research and development of Tensylon® which has been adopted around the world in hard-armor applications, and we believe this unique technology can be further developed to help improve law enforcement and warfighter survivability, as well as benefit an array of reinforcing applications with challenging technical requirements,” said Kevin Corby, Technical Director for DuPont Protection Solutions
The soldier protection portfolio of the future will require complex, integrated solutions to provide the maximum protection with increased mobility and endurance to further minimize burden. In a world of ever-changing threats and defense needs, decision makers want suppliers they can rely on to provide a range of options to meet their challenges.
“Today’s global defense industry requires advanced materials and innovative solutions to help protect and sustain the military, police and security professionals who protect us. Investing in product research and development, technology and global capabilities to serve these individuals continues to be a top priority for DuPont,” added Corby.
Tensylon® is another offering in the DuPont portfolio of advanced materials best known for battle-tested DuPont® Kevlar® and Nomex® fibers, fabrics, and unidirectional structures that have been used in body armor, helmets, vehicle armoring, flyers coveralls and other soldier protective gear and equipment for decades. For more information on ballistic protection offerings from DuPont, go to www.kevlar.com.
DuPont Protection Solutions is a global leader in products and solutions that protect what matters – people, structures and the environment - and enables its customers to win through unique capabilities, global scale and iconic brands.
DuPont™ Kevlar® helps protect law enforcement officers, military personnel, athletes and astronauts; DuPont™ Nomex® helps protect firefighters, industrial workers and race car drivers, as well as mass transit and wind energy systems; DuPont™ Tyvek® helps protect chemical industrial workers, as well as sterile medical devices and building construction; and DuPont™ Corian® resists the growth of bacteria to help protect hospital patients against infection.
