DSM, a worldwide company active in performance materials, announced today it is introducing its newest and strongest ballistic material for soft body armor. The new Dyneema SB61 offers ultra-high energy absorption to provide significantly increased stopping power, as well as the same high level of trauma reduction and aging behavior as other Dyneema soft ballistic products. Dyneema SB61 has been chosen by American Body Armor, a leading manufacturer of branded products for the law enforcement market, for its select use in the new top-of-the-line FUZION protective vest models. Dyneema SB61 fills a market need for improved ballistic raw materials that allow vest manufacturers to achieve higher levels of ballistic performance while lowering the weight of body armor. Dyneema is an ultra strong polyethylene fiber. Dyneema Unidirectional (UD) composites are made of several layers of Dyneema fibers, with the direction of fibers in each layer placed perpendicular to those in the adjacent layers. This unidirectional configuration allows the energy transferred from the impact of a bullet or other threat to be distributed along the fibers much faster and more efficiently than in conventional, woven fabrics. These UD composites enable protective gear such as bullet-resistant vests to provide excellent protection and reduce the effect of blunt trauma. Dyneema SB61 also offers light weight and flexibility for maximum comfort and agility.
