CHIKARA

High-end Ripstop Nylon

Chikara is the Japanese word for Power

This aligns seamlessly with the fabric's inherent qualities and performance. Originally designed as a premium material for the kite and paraglider industry, Chikara has consistently maintained its status as the leading ripstop spinnaker nylon.

Initially, Chikara gained recognition in high-end kitesurfing kites and paragliders. Today, it has expanded into various sectors, including medical and outdoor industries, where stringent demands for consistent quality and durability are paramount. The fabric's exceptional performance arises from a delicate balance of weight, strength, airtightness, stability, and longevity.

Weighing in at an impressively low 41 grams per square meter, Chikara employs high-tenacity threads that provide remarkable tear strength.

Despite its lightweight nature, Chikara demonstrates excellent aging characteristics, maintaining its performance even after extensive use. Its superb porosity, combined with a specialized polyurethane (PU) coating on both sides, are key features for applications that require durability and ease of handling. This coating minimizes water absorption, making the fabric suitable for a variety of environments, whether dry, humid, or wet. Additionally, the water-repellent (WR) coating on Chikara is now PFOA-free, making it particularly appealing for environmentally conscious and medical applications.

If you are seeking unparalleled reliability, lightweight construction, and long-lasting high performance, Chikara is your ideal choice in ripstop nylon.

Applications:
  • inflatables, skydancers;
  • sport- and foil kites;
  • art objects;
  • apparel;
  • protection- and cover products;
  • medical devices.
Specifications
  • Material: Nylon
  • Type of nylon: 30 Denrnier Nylon 6.6
  • Coating: Double sided polyurethane
  • Weight: 41 (g / m2)
  • Roll Width: 1.56 (m)
     
  • Tearing strength: Warp 5.0 / Fill 5.0 kg
  • Breaking strength: Warp 40 / Fill 36.1 (kg / 5cm)
  • Breaking elongation: Warp 49.3 / Fill 51.2 (% / 5cm)
  • Air Permeability: 0.03 (cc / cm2 / sec)

Banner of fabric (icarex)
Banner of fabric (icarex)
Banner of fabric (icarex)

Chikara has a weight of 41 g/m², which makes it quite a light weight fabric. This is due to the use of high tenacity threads in the fabric.

Air permeability is the ability of a fabric to allow air to pass through it. For Chikara, it is 0,03 cc per cm² per second*, which is extremely low. This means that the fabric is incredibly airtight, a feature that is vital for the production of kites. *The air permeability figure indicates the volume of air per surface unit in a certain amount of time. The value is measured at a pressure difference of 1 atmosphere given a certain thickness of the fabric.

Chikara is a low stretch fabric. This feature ensures that it will retain its shape for a significant period of time.

The tear strength of Chikara is very high. This makes it an incredibly durable fabric (resistant to wear and tear) and also guarantees that it will last for a long period of time, during which its performance will also remain undiminished

Chikara has very good ageing characteristics – even after many hours of intense use, products made from Chikara will still perform the same.  Mirai has good UV resistance. This can be seen through the many kites that have been created using Mirai, all of which have shown little or no signs of UV degradation.

Many nylon fabrics are attacked by ultraviolet radiation and may crack or disintegrate if they are not UV-stable. This is a problem known as UV degradation, and is common in products exposed to sunlight. Chikara has good UV resistance. This can be seen through the many kites that have been created using Chikara, all of which have shown little or no signs of UV degradation.


Chikara Spec Sheets

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Chikara is manufactured by Toray Industries, based in Tokyo, Japan. Originally established in the fiber and textile sectors, Toray has since evolved into a multinational corporation employing over 46,000 people. The company specializes in industrial products focused on technologies in organic synthetic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and biochemistry.

The Toray Group is dedicated to delivering innovative technologies and advanced materials that offer effective solutions to the world's challenges in balancing development with sustainability.

Specifications

Material Ripstop Nylon
Type of nylon 30Denier Nylon 6.6
Coating Double sided Polyurethane / Double sided WR
Weight (g/m2) 41
Roll width (m) 1.55
Yarn (Dtex) Warp 33 / Fill 33
Tear strength (kg) Warp 5.0 / Fill 5.0
Breaking strength (kg / 5cm) Warp 40 / Fill 36.1
Breaking elongation (% / 5cm) Warp 49.3 / Fill 51.2
Air permeability (cc/cm2 / sec) 0.03
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