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Tue, Jul 15 2014, 7:15:26 am MDT

Technora Threads

See through top sails

Aeronautic Innovation Rühle & Co GmbH|Facebook|Icaro 2000|Steven "Steve" Pearson|Wills Wing T2C

In the last few years hang glider manufacturers have offered topless gliders with see through/clear sails led by the example from Wills Wing (at least it appears that way to me). These gliders use laminated sailcloth with black Technora threads. Wills Wing offers two laminates: UVODL06 and UVODL04, both with UV films. Wills Wing writes:

Technora is three times stronger than polyester fiber.

Carbon reinforcing tape is used with UVODL04 to provide additional strength and resistance to stretch along the major tension lines. UVODL04 is slightly less expensive than UVODL06 but the cost and application of carbon tape make the UVODL04 sail more expensive. Generally results in lighter, quicker handling. Available only on the T2C.

http://www.teijinaramid.com/aramids/technora/technora-filament-yarn-black/

Steve Pearson writes about these laminates:

UVODL04 is 135 grams/m^2 or 3.2 oz./sailmaker's yard (36 in x 28.5 inches) . That includes two layers of 0.75 mil film, 400d Technora scim, 750d Technora X-ply, and adhesive.

UV ODL06 is 165 grams/m^2 or 3.9 oz./sailmaker's yard. That includes two layers of 0.75 mil film, 750d Technora scim, 750d Technora X-ply, and adhesive. Heavier scrim yarns make it harder to see though.

The clear appearance is the natural condition of polyester film when used with a clear adhesive. If one used a colored adhesive, it would be opaque like our UVPT white and UVX15 (http://willswing.com/features/sailcloth.asp). If I used grey film, like UVPT grey, it would be somewhat translucent, but not as clear.

The other reason that lightweight Technora laminates are clear is that you need much less Technora fiber (smaller, denser yarns) to achieve the required structural design parameters. The sparse fiber matrix leaves more clear film exposed.

Technora sails have become quite popular despite the fact that they are more expensive. Is it the bling factor or how the gliders handle or both?

The Wills Wing T2C:

UVODL04 with UVODL06 leading edge. Notice the additional lines/threads of Technora.

The Icaro 2000 Laminar:

The AIR VR:

The Aero Combat:


The Moyes Litespeed:

The Moyes Litespeed is the latest glider to use the clear Technora laminate. The Litespeed is the only glider not to have the clear Technora laminate go all the way to the trailing edge. It is not clear from the Moyes web site what sailcloth is used for the trailing edge.

I am only able to find detailed descriptions of sailcloth material at the Wills Wing web site. I don't find any other hang gliding manufacturer providing this level of information about the sailcloth that they use. If I could find such information I wouldn't have to rely so heavily on the Wills Wing site. If you have a link to such information I would be happy to publish it.

I don't even have a detailed description of the other Technora laminates used by other hang glider manufacturers. Even the sailcloth manufacturer web sites are bereft of useful information.

http://willswing.com/features/sailcloth.asp.

A key issue is that UVODL06 and UVODL04 require a special order and a minimum order, unlike ODL04 and ODL06. In addition, UVODL04 and UVODL06 are a bit more expensive. The minimum order is 1000 meters. Perhaps this is another area where hang glider manufacturers could agree to a joint purchase, now that this material is so popular.

Discuss "Technora Threads" at the Oz Report forum   link»


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