Endumax – an ultra-strong thin tape with a high modulus

Superior weathering
Fibers are weakened by exposure to <strong>ultra</strong>-violet light (sunlight), a fact that needs to be taken into
account in the initial design. In outdoor tests (ISO 877), under direct weathering at <strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>gle of
5° facing south without protection, <strong>Endumax</strong> tape not only showed less perform<strong>an</strong>ce loss th<strong>an</strong>
other high perform<strong>an</strong>ce yarns, but also less th<strong>an</strong> conventional UHMWPE yarn. (See Fig. 2.)
100
90
80
<strong>Endumax</strong> tape
Conventional UHMWPE yarn
Para-aramid
70
Residual strength [%]
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
UV exposure [years]
Fig. 2: Weathering: Decline in residual strength over time <strong>–</strong> <strong>Endumax</strong> shows best weathering
Good perform<strong>an</strong>ce at cryogenic temperatures
The strength of UHMWPE materials is affected by temperature. As the graph in Fig. 3
shows, their tensile modulus <strong>an</strong>d the breaking tenacity both fall off considerably at higher
temperatures. However, unlike other high-perform<strong>an</strong>ce materials, UHMWPE materials do not
become brittle at low temperatures. On the contrary, they tend to become stronger.
250 3.0
Tensile modulus [Gpa]
200
2.5
Breaking tenacity [Gpa]
Tensile modulus [Gpa]
150
100
2.0
1.5
1.0
Breaking tenacity [Gpa]
50
0.5
0
0.0
-100 -50
0
50 100
Temperature [oC]
Fig. 3: Effect of temperature on strength of <strong>Endumax</strong>
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