- Lighter
- Thinner
- Stronger
- Easier to pack
- New weave design
- Packs 17% smaller than traditional ZP fabrics.
We are very proud to introduce our new and Aerodyne-exclusive zero porosity canopy fabric called zpX. This honeycomb structured fabric is thinner and lighter, yet stronger than the regular ZP fabric we all know. This creates two great features: a 15 to 20% smaller pack volume (in comparison to a same sized ZP canopy) and a much easier pack job on even a brand new canopy.
Why the honeycomb hexagon?
In recent years, engineers and product designers have increasingly realized something that bees apparently have always known: configuring even a very thin material into a six-sided honeycomb pattern makes it much stronger than it would be in some other shape. The honeycomb pattern is nature’s strongest design and is currently used in many areas of the industrial world including communication satellites, military shelters, petroleum tanks, baloons, nuclear reactors, world-wide communications systems, and NASA’s space shuttle.
Performance characteristics of zpX in comparison to standard zp:
|
Mass / m2
|
Thickness
|
Warp
tear |
Weft
tear |
Warp
tensile |
Weft
tensile |
Canopy
Compression |
|
|
ZP
|
45
|
72
|
61
|
62
|
210
|
210
|
62
|
|
zpX
|
39
|
65
|
82
|
76
|
210
|
210
|
53
|
|
13% lighter
|
10% thinner
|
34% stronger
|
23% stronger
|
same tensile strength
|
same tensile strength
|
17% lower pack volume
|
Most of our main canopies have now the option of zpX fabric.