5 May 2014

DYNEEMA® MAX TECHNOLOGY FULFILLS PROMISE FOR HIGH STRENGTH HIGH MODULUS UHMWPE ROPES

DSM Dyneema has built an extensive catalogue of performance data on DM20 fiber

The Netherlands, 5 May, 2014 - The world's most creep-resistant ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber is even better than previously thought. Producer DSM Dyneema unveiled DM20, based on its new Dyneema® Max Technology, at the OTC Offshore Technology Conference in 2012, for use in mooring ropes for offshore production platforms. Since then, the company has been carrying out extensive characterization studies on the lifetime and tensile properties of this ground-breaking fiber. DM20 is fully commercial, with a set of final specifications that exceed the data presented at OTC 2012.

Dyneema® Max Technology is an innovative platform technology that will extend the use of Dyneema®, which was already the world’s strongest fiber. DM20 is designed for long-term permanently loaded systems, such as mooring offshore production platforms. Mooring ropes made with DM20 outperform all alternatives, surpass industry standards for deep water permanent moorings, and will outlast the operational life of the installation.

The new technology also opens the door for applications outside of the scope of offshore permanent mooring, where designers need the excellent dynamic properties of high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fiber for high-strength tension members that are under permanent load. DSM Dyneema is currently supporting potential customers in the development of totally new applications for Dyneema® Max Technology in such areas as industrial and renewable energy. In addition, the company is working on further developments based on the Dyneema® Max Technology platform.

One major existing customer, Lankhorst Ropes, has already used DM20 to produce a special version of its Gama 98 mooring rope. Working with a 34-mm subrope produced by Lankhorst, DSM Dyneema has been carrying out endurance tests according to ISO/TS norm 14909 at Norwegian classification society DNV GL’s facilities. These involve subjecting the rope to 10,000 cycles of between 5 and 50% of break load stress. The rope passed the tests without problem. Lankhorst also verified the creep characteristics of its Gama 98 rope with DM20.

In addition, DSM Dyneema has been building a broad database. This confirms that the behavior of DM20 is just as good as the company’s existing class-leading fibers Dyneema® SK75 and SK78. Furthermore, it has also proven its capability to produce DM20 consistently on an industrial scale.

With DM20, Dyneema® has taken a major step forward in the development of fibers with extremely low creep. Whereas in 2012, the company predicted creep of 0.2%, the new data now shows that in normal operating conditions—below 40°C and below 20% of rope break strength—the creep of the fiber is almost non-existent.

Reader enquiries

Dyneema
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6167 RD Geleen
Netherlands

+31 46 476 6466

press.dyneema@dsm.com

Notes for editors

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Ultra High Molecular Weight PolyEthylene (UHMWPE) fiber branded as Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® 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® fiber 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.

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

DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders simultaneously. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM’s 24,500 employees deliver annual net sales of around €10 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com.

Dyneema® and Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™ are trademarks of DSM. Use of these trademarks is prohibited unless strictly authorized.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Key Points

First use of Dyneema® in a complete set of offshore mooring lines was in 1999.
The longest running project with synthetic deep-water mooring rope is in the water for almost 20 years.
The creep performance of average HMPE is significantly poorer than the creep value of Dyneema® Max Technology.
A typical mooring for an FPSO will show close to zero rope creep in 25 years when using Dyneema® Max Technology.
At OTC 2014 there will be several rope manufacturers showing mooring lines with Dyneema® Max Technology.

Quote

"No other HMPE fiber comes even close to the creep properties of DM20, and we are confident that no other failure mode dominates over creep in DM20."

Jorn Boesten
Segment Manager Offshore at DSM Dyneema