Zylon Zylon ( IUPAC name : poly ( " p " - phenylene - 2 , 6 - benzobisoxazole ) ) is a trademarked name for a range of thermoset liquid crystalline polyoxazole . This synthetic polymer material was invented and developed by SRI International in the 1980s , and is currently manufactured by the Toyobo Corporation . Zylon has 5 . 8 GPa of tensile strength , which is 1 . 6 times higher than that of Kevlar . Like Kevlar , Zylon is used in a number of applications that require very high strength with excellent thermal stability . Tennis racquets , table tennis blades , various medical applications , and some of the Martian rover s are some of the better known instances . More common usage is in drive belts for snow mobiles manufactured by MBL USA Corporation . Usage . Body armor . Zylon gained wide use in U . S . police officer s body armor protection in 1998 with its introduction by Second Chance Body Armor , Inc . But protective vests constructed with Zylon became controversial in late 2003 when Oceanside , CA Police Officer Tony Zeppetella ' s and Forest Hills , PA Police Officer Ed Limbacher ' s vests failed , leaving Zeppetella mortally wounded and Limbacher seriously injured . Some studies subsequently reported that the Zylon vests may degrade rapidly , leaving wearers with significantly less protection than expected . Second Chance eventually recalled all of its zylon - containing vests , which led to its subsequent bankruptcy . In early 2005 , Armor Holdings , Inc . first recalled its existing Zylon - based products , and decreased the rated lifespan warranty of new vests from 60 months to 30 months . In August 2005 , AHI decided to discontinue manufacturing all of its Zylon - containing vests . This was largely based on the actions of the U . S . government ' s National Institute of Justice , which decertified Zylon for use in its approved models of ballistic vest s for law enforcement . Space elevator research . A competition was held in the Wirefly X Prize Cup in Las Cruces , New Mexico , US , on October 20 – 21 , 2006 . A team from the University of British Columbia entered into the Tether Challenge , using a construction made from Zylon fibers . The house tether used by Spaceward , that the other teams would have to beat in strength by 50 % in the 2007 strong tether challenge , was made of Zylon . High Altitude Balloon Science . Zylon is used by NASA in long - duration , high altitude data collection . Braided Zylon strands maintain the structure of polyethylene superpressure balloon s . Zylon is the material of choice due to its low weight , high tensile strength , and thermal properties . Motorsport . As has been the case since 2001 , Zylon tethers are used in Formula One to affix the wheel to the chassis thus preventing the wheel from ejecting in to a crowded area in the event of an accident which causes the wheel to become airborne . Starting in the 2007 season , the driver ' s cockpit must now be clad in special anti - penetration panels made of Zylon . In 2011 , a Zylon strip was introduced to reinforce the top of the racing helmet visor and provide an overlap between the visor and helmet for additional protection after Felipe Massa ' s 2009 injury . The Indy Racing League began using Zylon in 2008 . Standing rigging . On modern racing yachts Zylon is used for parts of the standing rigging . It is used as shroud s and stays . The PBO fiber degrades by UV and visible light , seawater and chafing and is therefore protected by a synthetic melted - on jacket . It is claimed to be 65 % lighter than traditional rigging at 110 – 130 % of the price of rodrigging . Based on laboratory tests , superior durability is also claimed . Zylon has a high Young ' s modulus of 270 GPa , meaning that it is very stiff . Conductive textile . Zylon has been incorporated as the base fiber for AmberStrand - Z series conductive fibers made by Syscom Advanced Materials , Inc . Currently offered in three different tow or strand sizes , the Zylon fiber is plated with nickel , copper , silver , or gold . The conductive fiber is used for electronic textiles , EMI shielding in woven or knit sheets , or as a braid over wires , and for signal transmission or current conduction . This conductive fiber combines the advantages of Zylon ( strength , high temperature , durability , light weight , etc . ) with the electrical properties of various metals . The conductive yarns can be sewn , braided , knit , or simply insulated like a bare wire .