Abstract: The invention relates to a preformed sheet comprising at least two mono-layers, each mono-layer containing unidirectionally oriented fibers having a tensile strength of at least about 1.2 GPa and a tensile modulus of at least 40 GPa, and a binder, with a fibre direction in each mono-layer being rotated with respect to the fibre direction in an adjacent mono-layer, and a separating film on both outer surfaces, characterized in that the separating film has a porosity of between 40 and 90%. With this preformed sheet assemblies and articles offering a substantially higher ballistic protection level at a certain weight can be obtained. The invention further relates to an assembly of at least two such sheets and to a flexible ballistic-resistant article comprising said assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn comprising the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DRfluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DRsolid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DRfluid =DRsp*DRag of at least 150, wherein DRsp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DRag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DRsp being greater than 1 and DRag at least 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a ballistic-resistant moulded article in which a stack of monolayers is formed, each monolayer containing unidirectionally oriented reinforcing fibres and at most 30 mass % of a plastic matrix material, the reinforcing fibres being highly-drawn polyethylene fibres, and with the fibre direction in each monolayer being rotated with respect to the fibre direction in an adjacent monolayer, the stack then being compressed at a pressure of more than 25 MPa and a temperature between 125 and 150° C., and the plastic matrix material having a 100% modulus of at least 3 MPa.