Aluula Composites, Black Diamond develop climbing helmet
The 2023 Vapor helmet uses Aluula Gold composites — polymer films with UHMWPE fibers — for a 44% increase in strength-to-weight ratio, and 31 grams less weight.
Photo Credit, all images: Aluula Composites
Aluula Composites (Victoria, BC, Canada), an advanced materials technology firm, reports that it has collaborated with mountain sports brand Black Diamond (Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.) to develop ultralight and strong composite materials for use in the next generation of Black Diamond’s pinnacle climbing helmet, the 2023 Vapor.
Aluula developed a custom penetration shield. The crown of the Black Diamond helmet uses Aluula Gold composite material. Aluula composites combine thin polymer films with ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers woven in various configurations (e.g., 0/90° and bias fabrics) to meet the technical requirements of different applications.
Aluula’s material is said to have a 44% higher strength-to-weight ratio than
previously used Kevlar (aramid) and reduced the weight of the helmet’s penetration shield by 40%; the new version of the Vapor weights in at 155 grams in total (compared to the previous model at 186 grams), ensuring that climbers never compromise performance (or style) for safety.
Aluula materials.
“This collaboration with Black Diamond represents yet another area where the enhanced properties of Aluula Composite materials combined with our
expertise not only satisfy very technical objectives, but have the potential to supersede conventional materials,” Aluula Composites COO John Zimmerman says.
To learn more or to request material samples, email info@aluula.com.
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