Ballistic protection specialist Dyneema has unveiled new hard ballistic protection materials that enable a 45% weight reduction in protective armour systems, parent company Avient Corporation announced on 20 January 2025.
Known as Dyneema HB330 and Dyneema HB332, the unidirectional (UD) materials are engineered with third-generation Dyneema fibre technology and, according to Avient, “set a new standard for ballistic performance and weight reduction, enhancing protection in hard armour applications such as inserts, helmets and vehicle armour”.
The development follows on from the launch in 2023 of Dyneema SB301, which was the first soft ballistic material made with third-generation Dyneema fibre.
“When combined into a complete body armour system, which typically pairs a soft armour vest with hard inserts for protection against handgun and rifle threats, third-generation Dyneema materials enable a high-performance system 45% lighter than a system made from first-generation Dyneema solutions,” Avient noted, “further lightening the load on law enforcement and military personnel while simultaneously maintaining the highest levels of ballistic protection and comfort.”
Dyneema HB330 and Dyneema HB332 are designed to offer a balanced approach on mechanical stiffness, temperature stability and superior V50 performance – allowing body armour manufacturers to develop the lightest-weight armour possible.
“The new products in our third-generation fibre portfolio represent our biggest advancement in personal protection in the last decade,” Marcelo van de Kamp, global business director for Dyneema at Avient, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The ultralight weight of Dyneema UD has long enabled ballistic solutions that support user comfort in high-pressure situations. With our latest soft and hard ballistic products designed to work together in a single body armour system, we’re enabling further improvements in agility and survivability for officers and operators in demanding environments,” he added.
Dyneema has US manufacturing sites Greenville, North Carolina, and Mesa, Arizona, as well as a European manufacturing facility in Heerlen, The Netherlands.
