DSM is using Dyneema carbon fiber materials for bicycles. DSM has built a prototype bicycle using frames and spokes made of Dyneema carbon fiber. Dyneema is Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMwPE) from DSM. DSM said that Dyneema is 15 times stronger than steel, but lightweight and can float on water. The material has long been used in offshore oil rigs and can even be used to repair human ligaments.
"Regular carbon fiber is strong, hard, lightweight, and easy to mold, but it's not very good at handling collisions," said Roel Marissen, a DSM scientist and an adjunct professor at Delft University of Technology. Carbon fiber is a composite material, and the manufacturer DSM claims to be more impact resistant than normal carbon fibers, increasing energy absorption by up to 100%.
DSM uses Dyneema for aviation, navigation and sports. In the field of bicycles, Dyneema is used in shoes and clothing of Specialized, Castelli, Exteondo and other brands.
For bicycle companies, Dyneema has two strong selling points: the material has a very high strength-to-weight ratio and very high abrasion resistance. Specialized shoe designer Rob Cook likes this material, it's very thin and flexible, and it's not elastic.