UNIQUE DYNEEMA® SOLUTION PROTECTS NAVY BOATS

URMOND (NL), 12 March 2007 - To realize the requisite flame retardancy for ballistic protective panels on Korean marine vessels, a solution was developed based on the addition of an aluminum and glass-epoxy resin layer to panels made with Dyneema® HB25. A patent application for this solution has been filed by DSM. This unique combination of flame retardant properties, excellent ballistic protection and durability in demanding environments, at the lowest weight possible is now available for marine and also for vehicle applications worldwide.

The new solution was developed in close cooperation with Samyang Comtech Co., Ltd., (Samyang), manufacturer of boat armor panels for the South Korean Navy. “The weight of boat building materials is a critical factor in the design of these craft and the ballistic protection materials must therefore be as light as possible, while still delivering the high protection performance required,” commented Mr. Youk, Sang –Soon, Navy General Manager for Samyang. “Dyneema® HB25 is the lightest ballistic protection material available and provides excellent bullet resistance. Now, the addition of flame retardant performance makes it the ideal material choice for us.”

Until now, boats had to use either steel, glass or ceramic armoring which meant lower ballistic protection and higher weight. Adding ASTM 1354-compliant flame retardancy to Dyneema® HB25, an ultra strong composite material from DSM Dyneema, now means that all the strength and lightweight benefits of Dyneema® can be applied to marine and vehicle armoring applications with the requisite flame retardant performance. This key development has made Dyneema® HB25 the choice of the South Korean Navy for boat armor panels. The panels manufactured by Samyang will help protect the LSF-II hovercraft and PKX fast patrol boats from ballistic impact and fire, while significantly reducing overall weight.

“We are extremely excited about this key new development for the marine industry and delighted that we can deliver world-class lightweight and flame retardant protection to the Korean Navy,” said Josse Kunst, vice president Life Protection APAC, for DSM Dyneema. “Moreover, DSM Dyneema’s practice of close collaboration with our partners such as Samyang Chemical Co., Ltd., was a key factor in realizing our success in bringing innovative, high performance solutions to end customers.”

Armor made with Dyneema® HB25 is less than half the weight of traditional steel, helping to improve the ships’ maneuverability, increase the amount of cargo that can be transported, and boost fuel economy. Moreover, boats with Dyneema® HB25 perform excellently in severe sea and weather conditions without compromising structural shape or integrity. Dyneema® HB25 also withstands the impact of UV light and salt water and resists algae growth, making it ideal for marine applications.

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema® , the world’s strongest fiber™ . Dyneema® is a superstrong polyethylene fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals.

The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel.

Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.

About DSM

DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company develops, produces and sells innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end-markets and applications, such as human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings and paint, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company’s specialties portfolio. The key drivers of this strategy are market-driven growth and innovation plus an increased presence in emerging economies. The group has annual sales of over €8 billion and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com.

Dyneema®, Dyneema Purity® and Dyneema®, the world's strongest fiber™ are trademark(s) (applications) owned by Royal DSM N.V.

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