ARAMIDS: ‘Disruptive’, open and continuous innovation

Abstract Aramids, sometimes associated with serendipity or an accidental discovery, are definitely to be recognised as a major disruptive innovation, now celebrating the 50th anniversary of its originating branded product. Open innovation was unavoidably promoted by the success of a broad range of applications where the aramids gave a new dimension to novel and/or improved designs insuring protection of people and of the environment, as well as of strategic equipment and settings. Transport and fossil energy preservation are also key areas which aramids are serving tremendously. The large breadth of applications and the blendability of the materials based on aramids have made them attractive either for smaller entertaining applications, such as music, or indispensable replacements, such as asbestos elimination, a welcome health contribution. Definitely in phase with smarter, bigger data and crowd sourcing approaches, aramids provide durable solutions and take part in the current industry trends; in the aeronautical and automotive new modular manufacturing for instance. Not only sometimes the best replacement of, aramids are often the most suitable partners of, harmonising well with steel and carbon or glass for examples. From chemistry to process, from improved applications to future innovations and from classic implementation to Collaboratory® developmental networks, this refreshed chapter covers the aforementioned attributes and impacts of aramids. Keeping in mind an educational focus, a dominantly illustrative and intuitively provocative approach is adopted. The systems engineering and supporting rational are taken into account. A large selection of foundation references is used and additional new ones are provided for reflection and creativity incitation purposes. Biomimicry and bigger data analyses are introduced as new dimensions which such high-performance materials are enticing.