Kevlar is described as which of the following?

Kevlar is described as which of the following?

• A. A synthetic polymer with excellent compression
• B. A natural fiber with poor elasticity
• C. A synthetic polymer, has poor compression properties
• D. A ceramic fiber with poor compression

Answer: (C)

Kevlar is a synthetic polymer fiber, specifically an aramid, designed for high tensile strength and toughness. Its strength comes from long, strongly bound polymer chains that resist pulling forces, giving excellent performance in tension. But fibers like Kevlar don’t resist compression as well; under compressive loading they can buckle and fail more readily, so their compressive properties are relatively poor compared with their tensile properties. That combination—synthetic polymer, with strong tension but weak compression—fits Kevlar best. It isn’t a natural fiber, so that option isn’t appropriate. It isn’t a ceramic fiber—ceramics are typically brittle and much stiffer, not what Kevlar exhibits. And saying it has excellent compression would misrepresent its actual behavior under load.

Kevlar is a synthetic polymer fiber, specifically an aramid, designed for high tensile strength and toughness. Its strength comes from long, strongly bound polymer chains that resist pulling forces, giving excellent performance in tension. But fibers like Kevlar don’t resist compression as well; under compressive loading they can buckle and fail more readily, so their compressive properties are relatively poor compared with their tensile properties. That combination—synthetic polymer, with strong tension but weak compression—fits Kevlar best.

It isn’t a natural fiber, so that option isn’t appropriate. It isn’t a ceramic fiber—ceramics are typically brittle and much stiffer, not what Kevlar exhibits. And saying it has excellent compression would misrepresent its actual behavior under load.