Dupont Tychem

Tyvek is a trademark of polyethylene fibers flashspun high density. Tyvek is the name is a registered trademark of DuPont. The material is very strong and is difficult to tear but can easily be cut with scissors or other sharp object. Water vapor can pass through Tyvek easily makes it very breathable, but stops liquid water. The material lends itself to a variety of applications, including medical packaging, Tyvek envelopes , car covers, air and water intrusion barriers, labels, wristbands, mycology, and graphics. Tyvek is sometimes erroneously called Tyvex.

Tyvek is a non-woven fabric made of olefin spunbond. It was discovered by DuPont researcher Jim White in 1955 which saw polyethylene fluff coming out of a pipe in a DuPont experimental lab. In 1965, he was brand and was introduced commercially in 1967.

According to DuPont, the fibers are only 0.5 to 10 um, compared to 75 um for a single stand of human hair. The non-directional fibers called plexifilaments are first spun and then bonded together by heat and pressure.

Tyvek is used by the United States Postal Service for some of its Priority Mail and Express Mail packages. New Zealand has used for its pilot licenses from 1986 to 1999, and Costa Rica, the Isle of Man and Haiti have made notes of her. These tickets are no longer in circulation and have become collectibles. Some hikers now use home Tyvek groundsheet, saying they are lighter, cheaper, and smaller packaging than polypropylene sheeting.

Tyvek garments are one piece of Tyvek, usually white. They are often worn by mechanics over their clothes to avoid contact with oil and fuel. They can also be worn for painting to protect skin and clothes spattered with paint, for installation of fiberglass insulation, by workers in laboratories and clean rooms, and any other use where a disposable diaper , disposable combination of time is necessary. Tyvek is also used for certain applications, the light of hazardous materials, but does not provide the level of protection of a full HAZMAT suit. Tychem is a sub-brand of Tyvek rated for a higher level of protection. DuPont makes Tyvek clothing in different styles of lab coats and aprons to complete head to toe coveralls with hoods and boots.

Although Tyvek superficially resembles paper because it can be written and printed, is made of plastic and can be recycled paper. Tyvek is marked with the number 2 resin code for HDPE and can be recycled with this type of plastic where facilities exist.