Kydex was first developed and manufactured in 1965 by the chemical company Rohm and Haas for use in aircraft interiors. In 1987, the Kydex product line was taken over by Kydex, LLC, which manufactures the material in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. The company is now part of the SEKISUI SPI group.
Properties of Kydex material
Kydex is a plastic alloy extruded from a special blend of acrylic PVC (polyvinyl chloride). It is a thermoplastic material that softens when heated, but does not lose its form and is easily shaped. It is a composite material, from acrylic it gains strength and malleability, from PVC then toughness and resistance to many chemicals. Due to its relatively high strength (90 HR) and grainy surface, it is resistant to abrasion. In some variants, it has a low flammability (different variants of the Kydex material show a value of V - 0 according to the UL 94 classification, some 5V). It is temperature stable, can be shaped well by drawing and pressing. It is easy to grind and can be drilled without any problems. No other thermoplastic exhibits such high impact resistance. It is also water resistant. Unlike the leather it often replaces, it is scratch and puncture resistant, holds its shape much better and does not stretch or shrink under normal conditions. Kydex is easy to clean, and even strong cleaning agents can be used on stubborn stains or scuffed areas without fear of damaging the surface of the product or altering the color (making color stains).
Use of Kydex material
Due to the excellent properties mentioned above, Kydex is often used for the production of various holsters—for knives, for pistols, for magazines, for flashlights and for other tactical equipment. Kydex is also used in wallets and credit card cases. But its application is much wider—it is used, for example, in the automotive and aviation industries, as an electrical insulator, for the production of protective helmets, medical supplies (orthoses), parts of furniture and building interiors, various stands and pedestals are made from it—and it has many other applications. The typical color is black, however, Kydex can be produced in other color variants.
Kydex can be purchased separately in the form of sheets, and more skilled do-it-yourselfers can make their own holster with the appropriate, commonly available tools.