DuPont's Nomex On Demand to better protect firefighters
19 Mar '09
2 min read
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.
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.
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