Dyneema® – The world's strongest fiber
Dyneema® is a fiber material known by the slogan World’s strongest fiber™, and with good reason. Dyneema is 15 times stronger than steel, yet so light that it can float on water!
Dyneema is often abbreviated as “UHMWPE”, which stands for “ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene".
The material also has a wide range of characteristics that are beneficial in lifting equipment and ropes. Some of the many advantages are that there is minimal elongation upon breakage, it is rust-free, can withstand extreme cold and heat, is pleasant to the touch, and is resistant to most chemicals.
Why is Dyneema® so strong? Dyneema® is made from a gas called ethylene, which is processed in a special plant to produce polyethylene, which is also used in everything from plastic bags to shampoo bottles. The longer the polyethylene chain in the material, the stronger it is, which is why Dyneema contains around 100,000 individual carbon atoms (the material in a plastic bag typically contains 10,000 atoms). The material is developed from gas to powder form, after which it undergoes another process where it is spun into the unique Dyneema® fibers.
Where is Dyneema® used?
The material is not only used for lifting equipment and rope, it is also used for products in fishing, sports equipment, defense, and police work. For example, you will also find the material in bulletproof vests. Where is Dyneema used in lifting equipment? Dyneema material is used in several different products for both lifting and pulling, including:
Lifting slings / lifting straps
The material is often used in large lifting slings for heavy lifting. We have supplied slings of this type for lifting bridge elements weighing over 1000 tons – you can read more about the specific products and specifications here.
Round slings
When round slings exceed 15 tons, solutions in HMPE or Dyneema often become relevant. This is where Dyneema's many advantages come into play. Round slings from Dyneema weigh and take up significantly less space than polyester round slings, which also have a high lifting capacity. Dyneema round slings also come in smaller versions, such as their 1-ton round sling, which is slowly gaining popularity but still surprises with its low weight and high wear resistance.
Fiber chain
We are proud distributors of fiber chains from Spanish manufacturer Murlink. Dyneema® fibers are used to create a lifting chain that is 80% lighter than a comparable steel chain with the same lifting capacity. Murlink fiber chain also allows you to use the familiar chain parts you would normally use in a standard chain set, while enjoying all the benefits of Dyneema.
Edge protection
Edge protection made from Dyneema® is incredibly durable against sharp edges and is the absolute best wear and edge protection available when, for example, exposing a round sling or lifting strap to a sharp edge. See more about our selection of edge protection in Dyneema®.
Ropes / cables
All the beneficial properties of Dyneema® fibers are also utilized in ropes and cables. Here, the material often quickly becomes a strong competitor to comparable steel wire solutions, e.g., for winches. In addition, the material is also used in the manufacture of mooring lines and other applications where ropes are otherwise used.
Who manufactures Dyneema?
Dyneema was invented in 1969 and is produced by the Dutch company DSM. However, in 2022, DSM was acquired by the American company AVIENT. Dyneema is produced at four different locations around the world, and the production process for the finished fiber is 100% in-house. This gives the company a unique opportunity to make the processes very sustainable and thus reduce CO2 emissions during production.
HMPE vs. Dyneema – an alternative to Dyneema
HMPE is a simpler and therefore cheaper alternative to Dyneema. The material in HMPE has many of the same properties as Dyneema and is therefore still stronger than the common polyester fiber found in a regular round sling. Read more about Dyneema at dyneema.com
