Israel’s Plasan, a leader in survivability and combat-proven armor solutions and Q-Flo, a U.K. University of Cambridge spin-out company, yesterday unveiled TorTech Nano Fibres Ltd, a joint venture between the two companies.
TorTech, based in Israel, will produce carbon nanotube fiber for the enhancement of body armor and composite armor systems for vehicles. The new material is stronger than Kevlar and other ballistic fabrics, but still flexible and lightweight, the companies said in a statement.
Q-Flo CEO Dai Hayward, said: “We are delighted to partner with Plasan to further develop the world leading research by Alan Windle and Martin Pick, initially within the Department of Materials Science at Cambridge University and for the last four years in Q-Flo. Through Tortech, we intend to produce a carbon nanotube-based yarn, which can be woven into the strongest-ever manmade material. Plasan’s expertise will then enable the design and production of a revolutionary new range of body and vehicle armor.”
Plasan Group CEO Dan Ziv said: “Nano fiber with mechanical properties as carbon nanotube fiber could lead to a breakthrough in structural composites and light weight armor applications. This is an exciting venture since we believe Q-Flo’s carbon nanotubes have the potential to revolutionize the defense industry through a new range of lightweight, flexible and incredibly strong armored material.”
Plasan will have exclusive sales and marketing rights to defense-orientated materials, while Q-Flo will retain rights for other potential applications.