UPDATE: Analysis Confirms No Kevlar in Outstretechedhands “Kevlar”

WUS member “Energyarts” had the same reaction I did when he saw a friend’s Outstretchedhands/Divestraps Ted McSu “Kevlar” strap: “There’s just no way this thing is Kevlar or anything like it.  If you paid that much for it thinking you were getting Kelvar you got ripped off.”

Energyarts also had access to analysis and testing facilities where he was actually able to positively confirm that there is no Kevlar content in the straps.  Here’s an excerpt from his accounting of the testing and results:

The strap is anything but Kevlar. It is nylon with a rubber coating. The strap was taken apart in several pieces, and compared under the microscope to an actual Kevlar hair line fiber. The Kevlar that was compared is *Kevlar 49* grade. Was no % of Kevlar found, then the pieces were burned using a lighter to set them on fire and the burning time was almost identical as far as burning speed goes and was followed immediately by a plastic smell which is Nylon.

The pieces of the strap were striped down taking the rubber coating off and set on fire. Not trying to start anything but fair is fair. *As far as I am concerned the above strap was not made of Kevlar*

So not only did microscopic comparison with a known genuine Kevlar® sample confirm that the material was not Kevlar, but when tested in flame the material burned readily.  Kevlar of course is known for its high heat resistance and does not burn nearly so readily.  So as far as I’m concerned too, the strap was not made of Kevlar.

So there you have it, as if there had even been any doubt remaining: no Kevlar whatsoever.

See the WUS Dive Watch Forum for the test results.

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