Teijin Limited announced today that its high-performance Technora para-aramid fiber will be used for the Space Elevator Challenge, an annual racing event for mock space elevators to be held in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan from August 7 to 10.
Technora will be used as the belt and rope hanging from large balloons positioned at an altitude of 1,200 meters. Battery-powered robots, called climbers, made by participating teams will race up and down the Technora belt and rope to see which can travel the fastest and farthest.
Technora was selected for its outstanding strength, heat- and fatigue-resistance and dimensional stability. By withstanding the heat, abrasion and weight of climbers that weigh up to 50kg and travel at a maximum speed in excess of 100km/h, Technora helps to ensure stable running conditions.
Teijin first commercialized its proprietary Technora para-aramid fiber in 1987. Today it is used in a range of applications, including industrial ropes, cables, optical fiber cables, rubber belts and hoses and concrete reinforcement, among others. It was also used for the suspension cords that connected the enormous parachute to NASA’s Curiosity Rover, which landed safely on Mars in August last year.
The Space Elevator Challenge, organized by the Japan Space Elevator Association, is now in its fifth year and expects to gather approximately 25 teams this time.
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibers such as aramid, carbon fibers & composites, healthcare, films, resin & plastic processing, polyester fibers, products converting and IT. The group has some 150 companies and around 17,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide. It posted consolidated sales of JPY745.7 billion (USD 7.4 billion) and total assets of JPY 762.4 billion (USD7.6 billion) in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. Please visit www.teijin.com.