Editing Vectran

{{short description|Aromatic polyester fiber}}
[[File:Formula_Liquid-Crystal-Polymer.svg|thumb|right|Molecular structure of Vectran LCP]]
'''Vectran'''  is a manufactured fiber, spun from a [[liquid-crystal polymer]] (LCP) created by [[Celanese Corporation]] and now manufactured by [[Kuraray]]. Chemically it is an [[aromatic]] [[polyester]] produced by the [[polycondensation]] of [[4-hydroxybenzoic acid]] and 6-hydroxynaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vectranfiber.com/BrochureProductInformation/MolecularStructure.aspx |title=Vectran molecular structure |access-date=2010-12-06 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120605012220/http://www.vectranfiber.com/BrochureProductInformation/MolecularStructure.aspx |archive-date=2012-06-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Properties ==
===Advantages===
Vectran's golden fibers are noted for their [[thermal stability]] at high temperatures, high strength and [[Young's modulus|modulus]], low [[creep (deformation)|creep]], and good chemical stability. They are moisture-resistant and generally stable in hostile environments. [[Polyester]] coating is often used around a Vectran core; [[polyurethane]] coating can improve [[abrasion (mechanical)|abrasion]] resistance and act as a water barrier. Vectran has a melting point of 330&nbsp;°C, with progressive strength loss from 220&nbsp;°C.

===Disadvantages===
Although the tensile strength is similar to [[Kevlar]], Vectran still tends to experience tensile fractures when exposed to significant stress.  The wispy, hair-like fibers tend to fray, to easily acquire dirt, and to readily entangle in [[hook-and-loop fastener]]s, from which they must sometimes then be cut or (when possible) torn.<ref name="HearleLomas1998">{{citation|author1=J. W. S. Hearle|author2=Brenda Lomas|author3=William D. Cooke |title=Atlas of Fibre Fracture and Damage to Textiles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cDGI2zF_GFsC&pg=PA468|year=1998|publisher=Woodhead Publishing|isbn=978-1-85573-319-0|page=468}}</ref>
If used without protective coatings, Vectran has low resistance to UV degradation, and should not be used long-term in outdoor environments.

== Usage ==
Vectran fibers are used as reinforcing (matrix) fibers for [[rope]]s, [[electrical cable]]s, [[sailcloth]], and advanced [[composite material]]s, professional bike tires, and in electronics applications. It is used as one of the layers in the softgoods structure of NASA's Extravehicular Mobility Unit (spacesuit) designed and manufactured by [[ILC Dover]] and was the fabric used for all of the airbag landings on Mars: [[Mars Pathfinder]] in 1997<ref name=wm20100304>
[http://www.warwickmills.com/Vectran.aspx Vectran Fiber -- Roll Goods and Custom Applications], Warwick Mills, "woven Vectran to strengthen fabric for use [on] NASA's Pathfinder mission to Mars", accessed 2010-03-04.</ref>
and on the twin [[Mars Exploration Rover]]s ''Spirit'' and ''Opportunity'' missions in 2004, also designed and manufactured by [[ILC Dover]] .<ref name=vfdc20100304>
[http://www.vectranfiber.com/applications.asp Vectran Product Properties and Applications -- Industrial/Military/Aerospace], "The success of the [Pathfinder] landing has led to the selection of this same technology using Vectran fiber for two additional rover landings in 2004.", accessed 2010-03-04.</ref> 
The material was used again on NASA's 2011 [[Mars Science Laboratory]] in the bridle cables.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11428|title=PIA11428: Device for Lowering Mars Science Laboratory Rover to the Surface|publisher=[[JPL]]|date=2008-11-19}}</ref>

Vectran is a key component of a line of inflatable spacecraft developed by [[Bigelow Aerospace]],<ref name=bbc20060714>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5173388.stm Inflatable space module puffs up], Jonathan Fildes, BBC News, 14 Jul 2006</ref> not only on two stations which are in orbit<ref name="space20080509">{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080509-bigelow-genesis1-milestone.html |title=Private Space Station Prototype Hits Orbital Milestone |work=Space.com |first=Tariq |last=Malik |date=2008-05-09 |access-date=2009-10-03}}</ref><ref name="ba20090423">{{cite web |url=http://www.bigelowaerospace.com/news/?Genesis_II_Completes_10,000_Orbits! |title=Genesis II Completes 10,000 Orbits! |work=BigelowAerospace.com |date=2009-04-23 |access-date=2009-10-03}}</ref> but also the [[Bigelow Expandable Activity Module]] which [[NASA]] is testing for its radiation shielding and thermal control capabilities.<ref name=ns20100303>
[https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18607-nasa-turned-on-by-blowup-space-stations.html NASA turned on by blow-up space stations], Paul Marks, ''[[New Scientist]]'', 2010-03-03, accessed 2010-03-03.</ref>

The [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] is sponsoring development of an inflatable plug made of Vectran to prevent flooding in [[New York City Subway]] tunnels and for [[list of bridges and tunnels in New York City|other tunnels]] in [[New York City]], as it is strong but relatively inexpensive, and not edible for [[rats in New York City|rats]].<ref name="fountain20121120">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/science/creating-a-balloonlike-plug-to-hold-back-floodwaters.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&pagewanted=all& | title=Holding Back Floodwaters With a Balloon | work=The New York Times | date=2012-11-20 | access-date=November 20, 2012 | author=Fountain, Henry | pages=D1}}</ref> Vectran fiber is also used in manufacturing badminton strings such as [[Yonex]] BG-85 and BG-80.
Vectran is also used in the manufacturing of Carlton Vapour Trail badminton rackets.<ref name="yonex2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.yonex.com/badminton/webcatalog2011/#page=31 |title=Yonex 2011 Catalog |access-date=2011-07-25}}</ref>

Vectran is used as a puncture protection layer in Continental Bicycle tyres such as the Grand Prix 5000, Competition tubular (single layer) and Grand Prix 4 season (two layers). Vectran does not increase rolling resistance or downgrade casing performance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.continental-tires.com/bicycle/technology/city-trekking/vectran|title=continental bicycle Vectran|website=www.continental-tires.com|language=en|access-date=2017-07-20}}</ref>

==Production==
[[Kuraray|Kuraray Co., Ltd.]] began manufacturing Vectran in 1990. {{asof|June 2007}}, Kuraray has owned 100% of the worldwide Vectran production since 2005 when they acquired the Vectran business from [[Celanese#Advanced Engineered Materials|Celanese Advanced Materials Inc.]] (CAMI), based in [[South Carolina]], [[United States|U.S.]]<ref name=kpr20070622/>

The total capacity of Vectran expanded from about 600&nbsp;[[ton]]s/yr in 2007 to 1000&nbsp;tons/yr in 2008.<ref name=kpr20070622>{{cite press release |url=http://www.k-online.de/cipp/md_k/custom/pub/content,lang,2/oid,7135 |title=Kuraray Expands VECTRAN Superfiber Manufacturing |publisher=Kuraray via K-Online.de |date=2007-06-22 |access-date=2008-05-15}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Aramid]]
* [[Twaron]]
* [[Carbon fiber]]
* [[Vectra (plastic)|Vectra]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.vectranfiber.com/ Vectran official site]
* [http://www.kuraray.co.jp/en/ Kuraray official site]
* [http://www.swicofil.com/vectranengineering.pdf Vectran | Engineering Data by SWICOFIL]
* [http://www.warwickmills.com/chem-bio/vectran-substrate.aspx Vectran fiber weaver]
* [http://www.imattec.com/ long fibre spun yarn]
* [http://www.teijin-aramid.com/eng/tech_tokutyo.htm Technora, aramid fiber]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040216121531/http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/mission/spacecraft_edl_airbags.html Vectran in Mars rover airbags]
* https://www.continental-tires.com/bicycle/technology/city-trekking/vectran

{{Fibers}}

[[Category:Polyesters]]
[[Category:Synthetic fibers]]
[[Category:Brand name materials]]
[[Category:Kuraray]]