Teijin Aramid, MACRO to develop Twaron fiber containers

Teijin Aramid and MACRO Industries have announced a collaboration agreement to develop more durable, fire-resistant air freight containers using lightweight Twaron fiber.

The MACRO-Lite unit load devices (ULDs) will be built with reinforced composite materials making the containers fire-resistant with a peak temperature of 1,200°F (648.9°C) for four hours, according to recent testing by the FAA and UPS while an aluminum container could only do so for a few minutes. The extra time is crucial in allowing flight crews to land safely in the event of an in-flight fire. Also, this higher fire-resistance will allow cargo companies to comply with potentially stricter safety regulations regarding the transport of lithium-ion batteries. Using para-aramid fiber also makes the containers lighter and more durable than standard aluminum containers. Teijin Aramid’s Twaron fiber is heat-resistant and reportedly five times stronger than steel at the same weight.

‘We are thrilled about the collaboration with Teijin Aramid and our ability to make air freight containers weigh less, meet higher safety standards, require fewer repairs, and have a lower environmental impact,’ said Norris Luce, Co-owner, and CEO of MACRO Industries. ‘Combining our technical knowledge and markets will lead to more and new products shortly.’

This story uses material from Teijin Aramid, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.