Zylon® PBO fiber cloth with the highest tensile strength and thermal stability of any commercially available organic fiber.
PBO offers the highest combination of tensile strength and thermal stability of any commercially available organic fiber — period.
At 5.8 GPa, PBO is approximately 10× stronger than steel and significantly stronger than carbon fiber or aramid on a weight-for-weight basis.
Decomposition temperature of 650°C with continuous use at 600°C — outperforming aramid, carbon and virtually every other organic fiber available.
Inherently non-combustible in air (LOI > 68%) with no fire-retardant additives required, making it ideal for structural firefighting and industrial fire protection.
Density of 1.56 g/cm³ — 5× lighter than steel rebar with the same load-bearing capacity, enabling dramatic weight savings in armored and aerospace structures.
Resistant to organic solvents, fuels and most industrial chemicals encountered in harsh processing environments, extending service life significantly.
Near-zero coefficient of thermal expansion ensures dimensional stability across wide temperature ranges — critical for precision aerospace and optical components.
Impact Composites is a leading bulk supplier of PBO fiber, yarn and woven fabric in China. We supply direct to armor manufacturers, aerospace OEMs, motorsport teams and industrial filtration companies in 50+ countries with no intermediary markup.
All PBO products are supplied with full material test reports (tensile strength, LOI, decomposition temperature) and are available in standard and custom weave specifications from 50 m MOQ.
High-specification PBO fiber products for mission-critical applications requiring maximum thermal stability and mechanical performance.
| Property | PBO Fiber | Aramid (Kevlar) | Carbon Fiber (T700) | Steel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 5.8 GPa | 3.6 GPa | 4.9 GPa | 0.4–2.5 GPa |
| Tensile Modulus | 270 GPa | 125 GPa | 230 GPa | 200 GPa |
| Density | 1.56 g/cm³ | 1.44 g/cm³ | 1.76 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Decomposition Temp | 650°C | ~430°C | ~400°C (oxidation) | ~1500°C |
| LOI (Oxygen Index) | >68% | ~29% | N/A | N/A |
| Elongation at Break | 2.5% | 3.6% | 2.1% | ~25% |
| Fiber Diameter | ~12 μm | ~12 μm | 5–7 μm | >100 μm |
Structural firefighting suits, proximity suits and racing driver fire protection requiring maximum thermal stability.
Soft armor backing layers, helmet shells and hard armor strike faces with superior V50 ballistic performance.
Thermal shields, structural panels and high-temperature insulation in hypersonic vehicle and satellite applications.
High-temperature gas filtration bags for power plants, cement kilns and metal smelting above 300°C.
Chassis reinforcement, roll hoop backing and fire protection in Formula 1, Le Mans and professional racing series.
Re-entry thermal protection systems and structural composite panels for satellites and rocket components.
