Kevlar 29 (Para-Aramid)

High-tensile aromatic polyamide fiber used in ballistic protection.

Core Principles & Analysis

• DuPont chemist Stephanie Kwolek invented it in 1965 after a cloudy liquid-crystalline solution unexpectedly spun into ultra-stiff fibers.
• Fibers are spun from solution in concentrated sulfuric acid, aligning the rigid aromatic chains to about five times steel's strength per weight.
• Kevlar 29 is the ballistic grade layered into soft body armor and helmets, while stiffer Kevlar 49 reinforces composites and cables.

Specifications & Metrics

• DENSITY: 1.44 g/cm³
• YIELD STRENGTH: 2900 MPa
• HARDNESS: N/A