Five times stronger than steel. Kevlar® is one of the most revolutionary man-made fibers in the world.
Origin
Kevlar® is the brand name of the aramid fiber that chemist Stephanie Kwolek invented for American company DuPont in 1965. It was initially developed to replace steel bracing in vehicle tires.
Aramid, short for aromatic polyamide is prepared by the reaction of amine group with carboxylic acid halide group. After this chemical process the material is converted into a fiber. These fibers can then be used to be tightly spun into a textile material. The result is a material that is stronger than steel and that protects against thermal hazards up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
Applications
Since Kwolek's invention in the '60s Kevlar® has been used commercially in a wide range of applications. Examples include bullet proof vests, fire fighter clothing and aircraft components.
Stone Island & Kevlar®
After the turn of the millennium Paul Harvey introduced Kevlar® in Stone Island's autumn/winter collection. Through advanced research Stone Island successfully dyed this unique material, which is usually impossible.
The Kevlar® fibres were laminated to an invisible nylon mesh and the in- and outside of the shell were treated with a polyurethane coating. The material has been made lighter. Prior to the application of the nylon mesh and coating, holes were created in the areas that require maximum flexibility.
We currently have a Kevlar® jacket from Stone Island's AW 2000 collection for sale here.