Editing Twaron

{{short description|Trademark of Teijin Aramid for high-strength para-aramid fiber}}
'''Twaron''' (a brand name of [[Teijin Aramid]]) is a [[Aramid|para-aramid]], high-performance yarn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twaron® |url=https://fibrxl.com/fibrxl-performance/fibers/twaron/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=FibrXL |language=en-US}}</ref> It is a heat-resistant fibre, helps in ballistic protection and cut protection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twaron® |url=https://fibrxl.com/fibrxl-performance/fibers/twaron/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=FibrXL |language=en-US}}</ref> Twaron was developed in the early 1970s by the Dutch company [[Akzo Nobel]]'s division [[Enka BV]], later Akzo Industrial Fibers. The research name of the [[aramid|para-aramid fibre]] was originally '''Fiber X''', but it was soon called '''Arenka'''. Although the Dutch para-aramid fiber was developed only a short time after DuPont's [[Kevlar]], the introduction of Twaron as a commercial product came much later than Kevlar due to financial problems at the Akzo company in the 1970s. As of 2000, Twaron had become a global material and had been integrated into the global markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twaron® |url=https://fibrxl.com/fibrxl-performance/fibers/twaron/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=FibrXL |language=en-US}}</ref> Twaron has been around for over 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Twaron® |url=https://fibrxl.com/fibrxl-performance/fibers/twaron/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=FibrXL |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
This is a chronology of the development of Twaron:<ref>{{cite journal |author=Teijin Aramid |title=Teijin Aramid history |journal=Teijin Aramid Website |year=2012 |url=http://www.teijinaramid.com/about-us/history-of-teijin-aramid/}}</ref>
* In 1960s a research program starts for "Fiber X."
* In 1972 the ENKA Research laboratory develops a para-aramid called '''Arenka'''.
* In 1973 Akzo decides to use [[sulfuric acid|sulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>)]] as a solvent for spinning.
* In 1974 New process route was found at Akzo Research laboratory, using [[N-methylpyrrolidone]] (NMP) with a co-solvent (auxiliary solvent) with an ionic component (Calcium Chloride (CaCl<sub>2</sub>) to occupy the hydrogen bonds of the amide groups in order to dissolve the aromatic polymer.
* In 1976 a pilot plant is built.
* In 1977 first production starts.
* In 1984 the product is renamed '''Twaron'''.
* In 1986 commercial production is started at five locations and nine plants.
* In 1987 '''Twaron''' is introduced as a commercial product.
* In 1989 the aramid business of Akzo becomes an independent Business Unit called [[Teijin Twaron|Twaron BV]].
* Since 2000 Twaron BV has been owned by the [[Teijin|Teijin Group]], now called Teijin Twaron BV and based in [[Arnhem]], [[Netherlands]]. The main production facilities for Twaron are in [[Emmen, Netherlands|Emmen]] and [[Delfzijl]].
* In 2007 Teijin Twaron expands for the fourth time in six years<ref>{{cite journal |author=International Fiber Journal |title=Teijin Launches Fourth Production Expansion in Six Years |journal=International Fiber Journal |year=2007 |issue=February |pages=20 |url=https://www.ifj.com/industryNews/rsIndustryNews2.asp?id=788 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819131408/http://www.ifj.com/industryNews/rsIndustryNews2.asp?id=788 |archive-date=2007-08-19}}</ref> and also changes its name into [[Teijin Aramid]].

==Production==

===Polymer preparation===
Twaron is a ''p''-phenylene terephthalamide (P''p''PTA), the simplest form of the [[aramid|AABB para polyaramide]]. P''p''PTA is a product of [[p-Phenylenediamine|''p''-phenylene diamine]] (PPD) and [[Terephthaloyl chloride|terephthaloyl dichloride (TDC)]]. To dissolve the [[aromatic]] [[polymer]] Twaron used a co-solvent of [[Methylpyrrolidone|N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP)]] and an [[ion]]ic component ([[calcium chloride]] CaCl<sub>2</sub>) to occupy the [[hydrogen bond]]s of the amide groups. The invention of this specific process was done in 1974 at AKZO Research Laboratory in Arnhem by a team consisting of Leo Vollbracht, Teun Veerman (assistant of Leo Vollbracht) and Wim Engelhard (trainee, who actually discovered NMP as the appropriate solvent to keep the growing polymer as long as possible in solution; he also discovered that high speed mixing of PPD and TDC was necessary to obtain a sufficiently long polymer chains). The patent of the newly discovered process route led to a [[patent war]] between [[Akzo Nobel|AKZO]] (Fibre X) and [[DuPont]] (Fibre B) as Dupont initially used the [[carcinogenic]] [[hexamethylphosphoramide|HMPT (hexamethylphosphoramide)]]. Despite heavy research DuPont now also applies the AKZO patent for their [[Kevlar]] process and use the less hazardous [[Methylpyrrolidone|NMP]].

===Spinning===
{{see also|Spinning (polymers)}}

After the production of the Twaron polymer in Delfzijl, the polymer is brought to Emmen, where fibres are produced by [[spinneret (polymers)|spinning]] the dissolved polymer into a [[solid]] fibre from a [[liquid]] chemical blend. Polymer solvent for spinning PPTA is generally 100% anhydrous (water free) [[sulfuric acid|sulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>)]]. The polymer is dissolved by mixing frozen sulfuric acid in powder form with the polymer in powder form and gently heating the mixture. This process, which differs from the more difficult DuPont process, was invented by Henri Lammers and patented by [[Akzo Nobel|AKZO]].

==Use==
[[File:Rifle Protected Entry Shield level III used by Police and Swat.jpg|thumb|Rifle protection police shield used by the [[National Police of Colombia]]. Stops [[7.62×51mm NATO|7.62 mm]] and [[5.56×45mm NATO|5.56 mm]] caliber rounds. Made from light ceramics and Twaron. ]]

Twaron is a para-[[aramid]] and has automotive, construction, sports, aerospace, and military applications, e.g., in [[body armor#Modern non-metallic armor|modern body armor]], [[fabric]], and as an [[asbestos]] substitute.

;Protective gear (heat resistant / [[ballistics]]): flame-resistant [[clothing]], [[personal protective equipment|protective clothing]] and [[helmet]]s, cut-fast or heat-hardy [[glove]]s, [[sport]]ing goods, [[textile]]s, [[ballistic vest]]s
;Composites: [[composite material]]s, [[paper|technical paper]], [[asbestos]] replacement, hot air [[filtration]], [[sail]][[cloth]], [[loudspeaker|speaker]] woofers, [[boat]] hull material, [[fiber reinforced concrete]], [[drum]]heads
;Automotive: [[brake pads]], [[turbocharger|turbo hoses]], [[belt (mechanical)|V-belts]] and [[Timing belt (camshaft)|Timing belts]], [[tire]]s that incorporate Sulfron (sulfur modified Twaron), mechanical [[rubber]] goods reinforcement
;Linear tension: [[optical fiber#Optical fiber cables|optical fiber cables (OFC)]], [[rope]]s, [[wire rope]]s, [[electrical cable]]s,<ref>[http://www.cranestodaymagazine.com/story.asp?storycode=2047050  Cranes Today: Rope Trick]</ref> [[umbilical cable]]s, electrical [[mechanical cable]] (EMC), [[reinforced thermoplastic pipe]]s
;Yacht construction: on [[monohull]]s and [[catamaran]]s (such as the [[Catana 581]]),<ref> Hull construction [https://www.multihullcompany.com/boat/catana-581-owners-version-3994013/]</ref> the [[glass fibre]] hull may have  an inner skin of Twaron aramid fabric laminated over the core to increase stiffness and impact resistance.

==See also==
* [[Fiber]]s
* [[Kégresse track]]
* [[Nylon]]
* [[Technora]]
* [[Vectran]]

==References==
<references/>
*{{cite book |author=JWS Hearle |publisher=Woodhead Publishing Ltd., Abington, UK - The Textile Institute |title=High-performance fibres |isbn=978-1-85573-539-2 |year=2004}}
* {{cite journal |author= Doetze J. Sikkema | title= Manmade fibers one hundred years: Polymers and polymer design | journal=  J Appl Polym Sci | year= 2002| issue= 83| pages= 484–488}}
* L. Vollbracht and T.J. Veerman, US Patent 4308374 (1976)

==External links==
* [http://www.teijinaramid.com Official Twaron website]
* [http://www.pslc.ws/macrog/aramid.htm General Aramid information]

{{TEIJIN}}
{{fibers}}
{{Types of armour}}

[[Category:Synthetic fibers]]
[[Category:Organic polymers]]
[[Category:Brand name materials]]
[[Category:Cables]]
[[Category:Protective gear]]
[[Category:Safety clothing]]

[[ja:ポリアミド#Twaron]]