ILEWG Using Teijin Aramid’s Twaron for an Innovative Spacesuit

Specifically, spacesuits need better protection from the holes and scratches that are often caused by debris in space. To address these challenges, together with several partners, the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) – a collaboration between several space agencies worldwide, including ESA, NASA, and CNES – is pioneering an impact-resistant extra-vehicular spacesuit layer with a damage-detection system. Teijin Aramid’s Twaron is proving an effective material for this prototype due to its ballistic properties and conductivity. “This project is a joint effort with several partners, including Royal Academy of Art The Hague, EuroMoonMars, ArtMoonMars, and institutions in France, Austria, and Switzerland,” explains Jamal Ageli, spacesuit design coordinator ILEWG. “This collaborative, innovative project aligns perfectly with Teijin Aramid’s values,” adds Remko Pol, Global Market Manager Aerospace. “Around 150 hexagonal patches of the Twaron fabric we supply will be used in the suit layer,” explains Remko. As well as forming an impact protection layer, each patch will also act as a damage-detection sensor to alert astronauts to stretches, holes, and scratches. The conductive yarn will send electrical signals to an in-built computing unit that measures any changes to the current. For example, if there is a puncture, the loss of conductivity will alert the wearer to the affected area. Combined with its low weight, these advantages make Twaron an ideal material for this project. “We supplied fabric solutions made from our finest filament yarn, Twaron Ultra Micro, for this prototype because they enable a high protection-to-comfort ratio,” explains Maria Persson, Senior R&D Textile Expert. “What’s more, by leveraging Twaron’s high-performance properties alongside conductive yarn to create a smart textile solution, the ILEWG may be able to reduce the number of protective layers required, for even greater comfort and mobility.” For identifying Growth Opportunities in the Global Aramid Fiber Market, please visit http://www.lucintel.com/aramid-fiber-market-2016-2021.aspx