UHMWPE
Dyneema® SK99
Avient / Dyneema ? High Tenacity
Manufacturer page / TDSDescription
Highest tenacity and modulus among lightweight polymer fibers. Numeric tensile fields are intentionally blank because the official public portfolio publishes grade-specific tenacity rather than a complete MPa/GPa yarn data table.
Comparative overview
UHMWPE fiber — High-specific-strength UHMWPE
Strengths: Exceptional specific strength, very low density, abrasion resistance and impact-energy absorption; it floats and enables extremely light protection or ropes.
When to use: Select for high-performance ropes, moorings, cut protection, sailing lines and ultralight impact-resistant laminates.
Key tradeoffs: Very low temperature capability, creep under sustained load, weak compression and difficult adhesion; unsuitable near heat/fire unless the system is specifically protected.
Qualitative ratings (1–10 scale)
| Relative cost | 8/10 — High — premium gel-spun high-tenacity UHMWPE, but broader than certified ballistic grades. |
|---|---|
| EM transparency | 10/10 — Exceptional — excellent dielectric transparency. |
| Temperature / fire resistance | 1/10 — Very low — low melting point and creep under heat limit service temperature. |
| Impact / penetration resistance | 9/10 — Excellent — outstanding specific strength and toughness, slightly below optimized ballistic grades for penetration screening. |
| Electrical / thermal conductivity | 1/10 — Very low — electrically insulating with low thermal transport. |
| Specific tensile strength | 10/10 — 10/10 | 4020.6 kN·m/kg | Class median |
| Atmospheric durability | 6/10 — Good — excellent moisture and chemical resistance; long-term UV and elevated-temperature exposure require stabilizers, coatings or laminate shielding. |
| Sustainability (CO₂e) | 6/10 — 8.20 kg CO₂e/kg fiber — Medium emissions — data quality: Medium |
Technical properties
Applications and processing
Sailing lines; kitesurfing and paragliding linesSailing lines; kitesurfing and paragliding lines