Aluminized Pbi™/Kevlar®
Although Morning Pride has manufactured Proximity products out of
aluminized Kevlar® and Nomex® in the past, the advantages of the new knit Pbi™/Kevlar®
aluminum substrate are so strong that we have limited our line to the product. Cracking
of the aluminized skin is a problem that plagues most conventional fabrics. The
suppleness of this aluminized 33%/Pbi™/ 67% Kevlar® knit helps to reduce cracking
significantly. Because they are stiff, conventional aluminized woven fabrics tend
to crease in the same place each time they bend, causing cracks in that area. The
flexible Pbi™/Kevlar® knit creases differently each time it bends, and this helps
to prolong the life of the aluminum coating. Customers should, however, be aware
that while this is the most durable of aluminized shells, all aluminized fabrics
have a much shorter wear life than non-aluminized fabrics (but non-aluminized fabrics
don’t meet NFPA 1971 radiant heat test requirements). As the chart below shows,
the Pbi™/Kevlar® knit fabric is significantly lighter, more flexible and more supple
than the earlier aluminized products of Kevlar® and Nomex® (test results show that
it takes up to five times more force to bend the earlier fabrics). The lighter weight
of the Pbi™/ Kevlar® knit also means wearers may experience less stress and fatigue.
Finally, the chart that follows shows better or equivalent protective performance
for the Pbi™/Kevlar® knit (in spite of its lower weight and suppleness).
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