What Is Tyvek, How Is It Used, And How Has It Developed?

The discovery of Tyvek(r), which many people don't recognize is a trademarked brand

like BandAid(r) and Kleenex(r), was made by researcher at DuPont industries, a chemical conglomerate founded in Founded in 1802. In 1955, that researcher, named Jim White, noticed white polyethylene fluff leaking out of a pipe in a lab. He set up a program to develop the new material and a year later DuPont submitted a patent proposal for strong yarn linear polyethylene.

It took years to perfect. First, they employed a flash-spinning technology to engineer the film. In 1959, DuPont opened a facility to try and develop new Tyvek applications like book covers, tags, labels and certain garments. In 1965, the newly engineered sheet structure was registered under the trademark name Tyvek. Commercial production began in April 1967.

Why is Tyvek so popular?

The reason for Tyvek's success is mainly two fold: it has a wide variety or applications and it isn't terribly expense. According to DuPont, the company that developed Tyvek, it offers the best characteristics of paper, film, and fabric in one material. It is very light in weight, having a higher strength-to-weight ratio than paper. So, lighter weights of Tyvek can be used for most applications. The material is also water resistant. It is not completely water proof, but liquids run off its smooth surface. It is also rip-resistant and more elastic than paper, making deep embossing possible without fracturing.

Another great attribute, increasingly important today, is that Tyvek is recyclable. Many companies offer recycling programs, and finding them online is very easy.

Working with Tyvek:

Tyvek has myriad applications including, but not limited to, construction, covers, envelopes, graphics, industrial packaging, medical fabrics, medical packaging, and personal protective apparel. In construction, its high-performance protective membranes offer leading solutions for the protection and energy efficiency of the buildings. As a protective cover, Tyvek's high-density polyethylene creates a unique balance of properties that are ideal as a protective cover.

For shipping and transporting important letters and information, companies use Tyvek because the material is so strong and durable; it easily withstands the most grueling conditions. Tyvek is nearly indestructible. If you are in the medical world and need durable, reliable, and sanitary materials, the properties in Tyvek make it a logical choice. Tyvek has also been developed for different extremes. For example: Tychem for liquid and gas chemical hazards; Nomex for thermal hazards; and Kevlar for cut and abrasion protection plus ballistic protection for law enforcement and military applications.

by: Matt Jancosek

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