UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)
also Dyneema, Spectra
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is a gel-spun ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber available in SK and Spectra grades plus unidirectional hard-ballistic, cut-resistant and coated yarn forms.
Reference datasheet — UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the SK75 condition
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) grades and fills
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is supplied in 12 conditions, soft to hard. SK75 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 12 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UD cross-ply laminate | 0/90 cross-plied fiber in a low-modulus elastomeric matrix, consolidated into ballistic panels or hard-armor plates. | 1,300 | 3 | 62 Shore D | |
Cut-resistant composite yarn | UHMWPE spun around glass or fine steel filaments for EN 388 level D–F cut-resistant gloves and sleeves. | 2,000 | 3.5 | ||
Honeywell general-purpose gel-spun grade | Honeywell's entry grade, equivalent class to SK60, for cordage, nets and cut protection. | 2,600 | 3.6 | ||
Dyneema SK60 | Lower-cost, lower-modulus grade for general cordage, cut-resistant yarns and non-critical composites. | 2,700 | 3.5 | ||
Chinese domestic high-strength UHMWPE filament | Pick the cost-driven SK65/SK75-class filament for ropes, nets and commodity armour at 3000 MPa and 100 GPa, accepting wider property scatter than branded yarn. | 3,000 | 3.5 | ||
high-tenacity armor/rope grade | Mid-tier Honeywell grade broadly comparable to SK75; used in Spectra Shield armor and high-strength lines. | 3,200 | 2.9 | ||
SK75Default Dyneema SK75 | Default workhorse gel-spun grade: best balance of tenacity, modulus and price for ropes, nets and soft armor. | 3,400 | 3.8 | ||
Dyneema DM20 | Fiber tuned for energy absorption in pressed hard-armor plates rather than for maximum static tenacity. | 3,400 | 3.8 | ||
highest performance Honeywell grade | Choose when maximum specific strength/stiffness is needed in Spectra-based armor or ultralight lines. | 3,400 | 2.9 | ||
Dyneema SK78 | Same tenacity class as SK75 but markedly lower creep — choose for permanently loaded mooring, rigging and lifting slings. | 3,500 | 3.8 | ||
Dyneema SK90 | Step up from SK78 for lighter, stiffer ropes and lines where minimum elongation matters. | 3,700 | 3.5 | ||
Dyneema SK99 | Top of the SK line — pick for weight-critical ropes, sailcloth and high-performance ballistic UD. | 3,900 | 3.2 |
What is UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)?
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is a gel-spun ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber available in SK and Spectra grades plus unidirectional hard-ballistic, cut-resistant and coated yarn forms. It is chosen for the best strength-to-weight ratio of any commercial fiber, 3400 MPa tensile strength and 109 GPa modulus at 0.975 g/cm3 with 3.8% elongation, and it floats and resists moisture and chemicals. The limits are thermal: maximum service temperature is about 70 C, the fiber creeps under sustained load, and its inert low-energy surface resists bonding. Where heat resistance or matrix adhesion governs, para-aramid is the usual alternative. UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) has a density of 0.98 g/cm³ (0.0352 lb/in³), lighter than 82% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -120°C (-184 °F). UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) has a tensile strength of 3,400 MPa (493 ksi), stronger than 85% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 3.8% and the elastic modulus is 109 GPa (15.8 Msi).
What is UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) used for?
- ballistic vests/helmets
- high-strength ropes and rigging
- cut-resistant gloves
- lightweight composite panels
Advantages
- Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 99% of composite grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 94% of composite grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 3.8%, better than 83% of composite grades
- Lightweight — 0.98 g/cm³ (0.0352 lb/in³), better than 82% of composite grades
- Conducts heat well — 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of composite grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 70°C (158 °F), worse than 98% of composite grades
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) properties
Typical room-temperature values for UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)-SK75; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical5
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) has a density of 0.98 g/cm³ (0.0352 lb/in³), lighter than 82% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -120°C (-184 °F).
Mechanical8
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) has a tensile strength of 3,400 MPa (493 ksi), stronger than 85% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 3.8% and the elastic modulus is 109 GPa (15.8 Msi).
Thermal7
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is rated for continuous service to 70°C (158 °F). It conducts heat at 20 W/m·K (11.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of composite grades.
Electrical4
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 94% of composite grades. UV resistance is good.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) takes about 115 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 57% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability1
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)'s machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 65% of composite grades).
Common Calculations3
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the composite family
Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)
Is UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) easy to machine?
Do not conventional-machine: cut yarn and fabric with hot knife, ultrasonic blade or laser; drilling laminates causes fuzzing and delamination — use sharp brad point at low feed.
Can UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) be welded?
Fibers cannot be melt-welded without destroying orientation; laminates are joined by adhesive-free hot pressing of the UD matrix (~120–130 °C, 15–20 MPa) or mechanically fastened.
Can UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) be formed, bent or molded?
Panels are consolidated in a heated press below 145 °C; no autoclave epoxy cure above ~130 °C, and any pre-tension must account for room-temperature creep.
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| spin finish / surface treatmentresidual processing oil and finish on yarn surface | 0.2 – 1.5 | 0.7 |
| ethylene (–CH2–CH2–) repeat unit, Mw 3–6linear UHMWPE homopolymer; crystallinity 75–85 %, no comonomer | balance |
What surface finishes work on UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)?
Surface is chemically inert and very low energy — corona, plasma or chromic-acid etch is needed before printing, coating or bonding; pigmented (black/coyote) yarns are used for UV and camouflage.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- DyneemaSpectra
- Also called
- UHMWPE fiber
How much does UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) cost?
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) — frequently asked
What is UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) used for?
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is typically used for ballistic vests/helmets, high-strength ropes and rigging, cut-resistant gloves and lightweight composite panels. In short: highest strength-to-weight fiber; floats in water; limited to 70 C.
What is the tensile strength of UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)?
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) has a typical tensile strength of 3,400 MPa (493 ksi) — stronger than 85% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 12 listed tempers.
Is UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 65% of composite grades). Do not conventional-machine: cut yarn and fabric with hot knife, ultrasonic blade or laser; drilling laminates causes fuzzing and delamination — use sharp brad point at low feed.
Can UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) be welded?
Fibers cannot be melt-welded without destroying orientation; laminates are joined by adhesive-free hot pressing of the UD matrix (~120–130 °C, 15–20 MPa) or mechanically fastened.
What surface finishes work on UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)?
Surface is chemically inert and very low energy — corona, plasma or chromic-acid etch is needed before printing, coating or bonding; pigmented (black/coyote) yarns are used for UV and camouflage.
Can UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) be formed, bent or molded?
Panels are consolidated in a heated press below 145 °C; no autoclave epoxy cure above ~130 °C, and any pre-tension must account for room-temperature creep.
What is the maximum service temperature of UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra)?
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is rated for continuous use to about 70°C (158 °F), and briefly to 130°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) cost?
UHMWPE Fiber (Dyneema/Spectra) is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Dyneema SK60/SK75/SK78/SK90/SK99 and HB laminate fiber data sheets — DSM / Avient Protective Materials (2023)
- Spectra 900 / 1000 / 2000 fiber and Spectra Shield product data — Honeywell Advanced Fibers & Composites (2022)
- ASTM D2256 — Tensile Properties of Yarns by the Single-Strand Method — ASTM International (2021)
- Handbook of Properties of Textile and Technical Fibres — high-performance polyolefin fibres chapter — Woodhead / Elsevier (2018)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 1–2 (Engineering Plastics / Composites) — ASM International (1988)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.