Mar 17 2009
Yesterday DuPont announced the latest offering in advanced fibers with DuPont™ Nomex® On Demand™, a new patented smart-fiber technology that gives firefighters up to 20 percent more thermal performance when they encounter emergency conditions.
DuPont has been protecting firefighters for more than 40 years. Seventy percent of the thermal protection in a firefighter’s turnout coat comes from materials using DuPont™ Nomex® and Kevlar®.
The term “smart-fiber technology” refers to the ability of the new material -- initially for use in thermal liners in firefighter turnout gear -- to detect emergency conditions and automatically expand to trap more air for greater thermal insulation. In emergency conditions, air temperatures can exceed hundreds of degrees. Nomex® On Demand™ is specifically engineered to react and expand when temperatures reach 250 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. In routine conditions, thermal liners made with Nomex® On Demand™ remain thin and flexible, providing excellent thermal protection and good mobility. Once activated, Nomex® On Demand™ continues to provide maximum thermal protection, when and where it is needed.
“DuPont™ Nomex® On Demand™ is the first smart-fiber technology that helps protect lives,” said Tom Powell, vice president and general manager, DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems. “It is a great example of our commitment to market-driven science -- matching our many years of experience in high-performance fibers with an understanding of the evolving needs of the fire services industry. We are committed to protecting firefighters and other emergency responders with innovative products that will help enable them to perform their jobs as safely as possible.”
The new technology is commercially available in the United States and Canada and will be available globally in late 2009. While initially available in firefighter gear, DuPont is reviewing additional applications for Nomex® On Demand™ including wildfire control; oil and gas operations; military uses; and auto racing, where 95 percent of today’s drivers wear suits made of DuPont™ Nomex®. DuPont estimates the demand for fire protection gear in the United States alone totals almost USD 300 million.