Lighter composite fabric for law enforcement protection

Centurion is the latest performance fabric made from Honeywell Spectra fibre, and is designed to make law enforcement apparel and equipment up to 40%. It is available in six colours and designs, providing diverse options for end products that can be made with the fabric.

The increased supply helps meet growing global demand, including the European market, for law enforcement clothing and gear that is lightweight and comfortable. Law enforcement agencies around the world are transitioning to new standards that lighten the load officers must carry.

Centurion is designed with these standards in mind. For example, Centurion-made tactical vests can be 35 to 40% lighter because they do not require extra fabric or webbing. The Centurion fabric is laser-cut according to user preference, resulting in slits along the vests from which officers can attach gear as needed.

“For more than 25 years, Honeywell has worked to reduce the weight burden on law enforcement officers through advancements in our Spectra-based ballistics products,” said Greg Davis, global business manager for body protection, Honeywell Packaging and Composites. “Extending our Spectra fibre into a high-performance fabric application designed for tactical vests and plate carriers was a perfect fit.

“Centurion’s fabric design can substantially reduce the weight and bulk of a vest, making the apparel lighter for officers, while at the same time making it easier for vest manufacturers to produce the vests using laser-cutting technologies.”

Pound for pound, Spectra is said to be 15 times stronger than steel, yet light enough to float. It has up to 60% greater strength than alternate aramid fibre.

Spectra fibre is made from ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene using a patented gel-spinning process. It is used to create Spectra Shield, an advanced ballistic-resistant composite material. Honeywell’s Shield technology is a patented Honeywell process designed to optimise the ballistic performance characteristics of Spectra, as well as aramid fibre in Gold Shield materials.

www.honeywell-spectra.com