DSM Protective Materials
About Protective Materials
DSM Protective Materials is the world’s only global and backward-integrated producer of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) products. Our UHMWPE premium product brand, Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, is 15 times stronger than steel on a weight-for-weight basis, 40% stronger than aramid, yet light enough to float on water. These characteristics make it suitable for a wide range of critical applications including personal protection, workwear, sports apparel, outdoor equipment, ropes and slings, synthetic chains, and nets for the aquaculture and renewable energy sector. Besides Dyneema®, DSM Protective Materials consists of the brand Trosar™, which is our value offering for UHMWPE fibers and unidirectional laminate (UD).
Protective Materials performance
Volumes were down -9% in DSM Protective Materials, driven by Personal Protection.
Launch of bio-based Dyneema®
As part of our commitment to use at least 60% bio-based feedstock by 2030, we launched the world’s first bio-based UHMWPE fiber in 2020. Bio-based Dyneema® fiber offers exactly the same performance as conventional Dyneema®. Production of 1 metric ton bio-based Dyneema® generates 5 metric tons less CO2eq compared to the same volume of fossil-based Dyneema®.
Recycling end-of-life Dyneema®-based products
Together with leading partners across several industries, we established a coalition to address the recycling of end-of-life Dyneema®-based products in 2020. The coalition will provide a platform to share knowledge, resources, and technological solutions with the aim to close the loop on the world’s strongest yarn.
Launch of Trosar™
In 2020, we launched Trosar™, our value offering for UHMWPE fibers and uni-directional (UD) fabrics. Trosar™ is available in various performance grades as both fiber and unidirectional laminate (UD) mainly for marine applications. To ensure a reliable supply of consistent high quality, Trosar™ is manufactured to uniformly stringent standards at DSM sites in the Netherlands, North America and China.
Primary energy is energy that has not yet been subjected to a human engineered conversion process. It is the energy contained in unprocessed fuels.
Final (consumed) energy is the energy that is consumed by end-users. The difference between primary energy and final consumed energy is caused by the conversion process between the two as well as any transmission losses.
