New fiber created that is strong like Dyneema but also very tough

[transmitterdan]

The folks at MIT have created a process for making tiny fibers that are about as strong as Dyneema but 10 times the stiffness. So they are more resistant to certain kinds of forces. It may someday result in fibers that are better than carbon fibers for sails and Dyneema rope. It is promising because the process for making the fibers it not too different from existing processes. But they don't know exactly why the new fibers are so much better so it may turn out that there is some inherent limit such as size. Anyway, it's good to see that there is the possibility for improvement in modern fibers.

https://phys.org/news/2018-01-techni...lications.html

[zboss]

Amazing advances happen incrementally and then all at once. I love this stuff.

[Jim Cate]

Very interesting indeed! I wonder how well the process is adapted to mass production as opposed to lab scale? Sure sounds like it would be wonderful for rigging usage.

Hurry up, guys... I want some!

Jim

[roverhi]

If they are way stiffer than Dyneema will not work well in rope and would be a problem laminating. Will have to wait and see how they work out when they become available to the rest of us.

[Seymore]

How does it degrade in sunlight compared to polyester?

It's polyethylene, which is not very promising for things like running rigging.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by roverhi

If they are way stiffer than Dyneema will not work well in rope and would be a problem laminating. Will have to wait and see how they work out when they become available to the rest of us.

Sounds like they've found a way to make a HMPE based alternative to carbon fibre rather than an improved Dyneema.

Based on the article, I'd expect to see it used as a lighter weight replacement for carbon fibre structures, rather than replacing Dyneema rigging.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Seymore

How does it degrade in sunlight compared to polyester?

It's polyethylene, which is not very promising for things like running rigging.

So are Dyneema and Spectra (aka HMPE = High Modulus PolyEthylene), and they are used quite successfully for running rigging.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Seymore

How does it degrade in sunlight compared to polyester?

It's polyethylene, which is not very promising for things like running rigging.

Well, so is Dyneema (based on the same molecule as PE) and that seems pretty good in running rigging and in terms of UV resistance.

Way too early to start this sort of criticism of what is only a laboratory sample so far. Could be really good, could be not so much. I, the eternal techo optimist will wait with hope for another great advance (like Dyneema).

Jim

[transmitterdan]

Originally Posted by StuM

Sounds like they've found a way to make a HMPE based alternative to carbon fibre rather than an improved Dyneema.

Based on the article, I'd expect to see it used as a lighter weight replacement for carbon fibre structures, rather than replacing Dyneema rigging.

I agree that the new fibre is probably going to first be used in industrial applications because they can make it much thinner than Dyneema. Things like bullet proof vests come to mind. But if it is 10 times "tougher" than Dyneema with similar modulus it's conceivable it could replace carbon fibers in sail fabrics. Should greatly reduce cost and weight according to the article.

[Sirago]

Look up a company called Advanced Ceramic Fibers (ACF)....visit their website: www.acfibers.com

[Seymore]

Originally Posted by Seymore

How does it degrade in sunlight compared to polyester?

It's polyethylene, which is not very promising for things like running rigging.

Here I was talking about polyester rigging and not polyester gelcoat.

I had a Dyneema pennant on my dinghy a few years ago. It deteriorated in a year and a half in sunlight. I replaced it with a polyester pennant, which lasted three years. Non subjective test.

So I contributed a posting.

Elsewhere they're posting about deterioration of polyester gelcoat.

[estarzinger]

historically, automotive tire 'belting' has been the main 'killer app' that drives fiber development into production and to high scale.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Seymore

Here I was talking about polyester rigging and not polyester gelcoat.

I had a Dyneema pennant on my dinghy a few years ago. It deteriorated in a year and a half in sunlight. I replaced it with a polyester pennant, which lasted three years. Non subjective test.

So I contributed a posting.

Elsewhere they're posting about deterioration of polyester gelcoat.

We have a beach Cat with dyneema dux standing rigging. It came new with a seven year UV warranty. It’s been 8 and it’s still going. This thing sits in the Texas sun 9 months out of the year.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Seymore

Here I was talking about polyester rigging and not polyester gelcoat.

I had a Dyneema pennant on my dinghy a few years ago. It deteriorated in a year and a half in sunlight. I replaced it with a polyester pennant, which lasted three years. Non subjective test.

So I contributed a posting.

Elsewhere they're posting about deterioration of polyester gelcoat.

Not sure what a pennant is on a dinghy, nor what yours was really made of... but we've used SK75 Dyneema for our lifelines, running backs and baby stay for nearly a decade now. We have not experienced the kind of deterioration that you are complaining about. None of the other boats that we know that are using Dyneema have either. Our usage, especially the runners, is pretty high loading and pretty critical...

Further, not at all sure what the "polyester rigging" might be. I've heard of using kevlar, carbon, Dyneema and other non-metallic fibres for standing rigging, but not polyester (ie Dacron). Perhaps you could fill us in on the details here for in general Polyester fibres have too much stretch for such usage.

Jim

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Not sure what a pennant is on a dinghy, nor what yours was really made of...

I presume that he meant "painter".