#Yarn & Fiber

2025-02-06

Dyneema® unveils groundbreaking hard ballistic product innovations, enabling a 45% weight reduction in protective armor systems

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), an innovator of materials solutions, unveils its most advanced ballistic materials to date with the launch of Dyneema® HB330 and Dyneema® HB332. Engineered with third-generation Dyneema® fiber technology, these groundbreaking unidirectional (UD) materials set a new standard for ballistic performance and weight reduction, enhancing protection in hard armor applications such as inserts, helmets, and vehicle armor.

When the weight of responsibility is enough, the world’s strongest fiber™ makes unparalleled personal protection lighter than ever – enhancing safety and mobility for law enforcement and military personnel © 2025 Avient

Following the successful launch of Dyneema® SB301 in 2023, the first soft ballistic material made with third-generation Dyneema® fiber, the introduction of Dyneema® HB330 and Dyneema® HB332 hard ballistic materials provides a comprehensive solution for advanced personal protection.

When combined into a complete body armor system, which typically pairs a soft armor vest with hard inserts for protection against handgun and rifle threats, third-generation Dyneema® materials enable a high-performance system 45% lighter than a system made from first-generation Dyneema® solutions – further lightening the load on law enforcement and military personnel while simultaneously maintaining the highest levels of ballistic protection and comfort.

“The new products in our third-generation fiber portfolio represent our biggest advancement in personal protection in the last decade,” says Marcelo van de Kamp, Global Business Director for Dyneema®, Avient. “The ultra-light weight of Dyneema® UD has long enabled ballistic solutions that support user comfort in high-pressure situations. With our latest soft and hard ballistic products designed to work together in a single body armor system, we’re enabling further improvements in agility and survivability for officers and operators in demanding environments.”

Dyneema® HB330 and Dyneema® HB332 offer a balanced approach on mechanical stiffness, temperature stability, and superior V50 performance – allowing body armor manufacturers to develop the lightest weight armor in the industry.

As the only manufacturer of ballistic materials to make both its fiber and UD material in-house in the United States of America, the Dyneema® brand is trusted by elite state and federal forces and fully compliant with the Berry Amendment. Dyneema® also provides the same level of consistency, quality, and traceability for European customers through its manufacturing facility in Heerlen, The Netherlands.

Like other Dyneema® UD material, Dyneema® HB330 and Dyneema® HB332 are made without intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for personal protective solutions that can deliver unrivaled protection.