Polyolefins have applications across a range of sectors – including defence and security, energy, healthcare, and water processing – and constitute more than 80% of the polymers produced by industry.

Their strength, flexibility and endurance make them ideal for use in the manufacture of body armour, prosthetic limbs, water filtration equipment, and ion exchange membranes for batteries and fuel cells.

However, the conventional processes involved in their production tend to be costly, technologically complicated, and ecologically unsound.

Since 2007, experts in the Department of Materials have been perfecting a novel, environmentally friendly manufacturing process for high modulus, high tensile polymer tapes.

The synthetic route they have developed produces polymers with mechanical properties that exceed those of current commercial alternatives whilst providing a sustainable and industry scalable manufacturing process.

In 2011, successful commercialisation of the research saw the launch of Teijin brand Endumax®. The company uses the technology to manufacture high strength tape suitable for ballistics protection; robotics / force transmission; and ropes, cables and slings.

The ground-breaking process is set to become an industry standard as market competitors introduce it within their own manufacturing processes.