Zylon-containing vests are safe & appropriate for use by Toyobo
18 Jul '05
3 min read
Japan based chemicals, textiles, nonwovens and synthetic fibers maker Toyobo Co Ltd stands behind Zylon, a lightweight high strength fiber used by manufacturers in a number of different applications, including by body armor manufacturers for ballistic use.
Leading body armor manufacturers continue to use Zylon as a ballistic component in their products that are certified by the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice for use by the nation's law enforcement community.
A recent press release by Second Chance Body Armor Inc claiming “new issues” by a company consultant with its use of Zylon is another attempt to divert attention from Second Chance's admission that its vests do not satisfy its own warranties. The consultant who supplied the data was hired and is paid by Second Chance to defend the company against a number of lawsuits.
Toyobo rejects any contention by Second Chance that "the presence of inordinately high levels of residual process (phosphoric) acids" is responsible for problems Second Chance has reported with its vests containing Zylon. For several years it has been well known among the scientific community that Toyobo uses phosphoric acid in the manufacturing process of Zylon.
Toyobo tests Zylon after production to ensure that no excessive phosphoric acid remains in the fiber and the company is not aware of any legitimate scientific evidence showing that excessive residue does remain in the fiber.
The “new issues” discussed in Second Chance's press release are also not new. The subject of hydrolytic degradation is a well known phenomenon in the scientific community.
marketing@alchempro.com
