Polyethylene resins are classified into, e.g., high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, and linear low density polyethylene. They are used as engineering plastics and films, and their fiber utilization is increasing for clothing and industrial use.
In recent years, an issue in the field of textiles is superfine fibers that exhibit high performance in extreme environments, such as aramid fibers, carbon fibers, and polyarylate fibers that require high strength and high elasticity. Among them, polyethylene-based superfine fibers are ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers having a molecular weight of several million or more.
The ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers having excellent strength and elasticity have a weight average molecular weight of several millions, so that they are manufactured through gel-spinning using an organic solvent, and they are also used in high strength applications such as bulletproof helmets, armor, ropes, and reinforcements that require abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and cut resistance.
Polyethylene fibers having high strength and high-elasticity have excellent cut resistance in the form of woven fabrics and knitted fabrics. However, due to an increase in stiffness, there is an issue in that the processing convenience, wearing and touch sensation are lowered when they are applied to woven fabrics and knitted fabrics.