Super material

Cordura is made by DuPont, which in the 1980s produced materials used in workwear and military equipment. These materials were based on viscose, also invented by DuPont. DuPont patented the Cordura material in 2004 as a durable, tear- and abrasion-resistant material for special tasks. A little later, Invista took over the production rights.

Cordura is a synthetic material made of polyamide, specifically nylon (also invented by DuPont). Initially, it was made in a plain weave, and over time the production technology evolved to provide even greater strength, lightness and flexibility, as well as improved waterproof properties. The nylon fibers used to produce Cordura have a polyurethane coating with the addition of Teflon, thanks to which the material itself has good waterproof properties and is resistant to high temperatures.

The issue of weaving and processing fibers is a secret of the producers, because the secret of its durability lies in the textile technology. The manufacturer is constantly developing new forms of this material:

• Cordura AFT
A better ventilated, thinner and lighter version of Cordura that is still highly durable. He can often be seen wearing motorcycle touring clothes.

• Cordura Ballistic
Thick material with a simple weave, designed to survive in the most difficult conditions. Due to its high stiffness and thickness, it is unlikely to be used to sew entire clothing items.

• Cordura Denim
This is jeans reinforced with nylon fibers, popular among motorcycle jeans manufacturers. Thanks to the use of Cordura fibers in the material, there is no need to use an internal protective layer, e.g. aramid.

• Cordura Combat Wool
It is a material resembling wool, but made of specially prepared nylon fibers. It is 10 times more resistant to damage than wool.

These are just some of the materials created by the Cordura manufacturer. Invista is experimenting with Cordura by introducing additives that improve comfort of use, increase flexibility, or make them pleasant to the touch. Completely waterproof laminated Cordura is becoming increasingly popular in motorcycle clothing.

Motorcycle clothing manufacturers can freely combine different types of Cordura to achieve the highest safety parameters without sacrificing comfort of use or ventilation. SECA uses 500D Cordura in the Strada EVO and X-Tour touring suits, as well as in the airy SECA SuperAir urban jacket.

Depending on the use, Cordura differs in weave, thickness and fiber structure. Cordura’s resistance to damage is expressed in markings, e.g. 500D or 1000D from denier – a unit measuring the density of the synthetic fiber and determining the linear thickness. One denier means that a fiber 9000 meters long weighs 1 g and is 10 micrometers thick. Nylon fibers have a minimum of 10 denier, and the nylon fibers used in Cordura 500D have a minimum of 500 denier. Thanks to these values, the susceptibility to tearing and abrasion resistance can be determined.

For example, Cordura 1000D is a material with high tear and abrasion resistance – it requires as much as 150N force to tear it, and the abrasion resistance determined in Martindale cycles is as much as 50,000 cycles.

Cordura is a true mark of quality, so if you see the Cordura logo on your motorcycle clothes, you can rest easy. When the need arises, they will certainly rise to the occasion.