Tyvek

Tyvek
Product type Flashspun nonwoven HDPE fiber
Owner DuPont
Country United States
Introduced DuPont
Related brands YUPO synthetic paper
Markets Packaging and labeling
Website dupont.com/Tyvek
Tyvek house wrap

Tyvek /tˈvɛk/ is a brand of flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers, a synthetic material; the name is a registered trademark of DuPont. It is often seen used as housewrap, a synthetic material used to protect buildings during construction. The material is very strong; it is difficult to tear but can easily be cut with scissors or a knife. Water vapor can pass through Tyvek, but liquid water cannot. All of these properties make Tyvek useful in a variety of applications.

History

Tyvek is a nonwoven product consisting of spunbond olefin fiber. It was first discovered in 1955 by DuPont researcher Jim White who saw polyethylene fluff coming out of a pipe in a DuPont experimental lab.[1] It was trademarked in 1965 and was first introduced for commercial purposes in April 1967.[2]

According to DuPont's website, the fibers are 0.5–10 µm (compared to 75 µm for a human hair). The nondirectional fibers (plexifilaments) are first spun and then bonded together by heat and pressure, without binders.[3]

Tyvek is manufactured at the Spruance plant in Richmond, Virginia, and in Sandweiler-Contern, Luxembourg.

Properties

Tyvek USPS Express Mail envelope

Among Tyvek's properties are:

Adhesion and bonding

DuPont recommends starch, dextrin, casein, and animal-based adhesives over most synthetic-based adhesives, emphasizing the effectiveness of water-based and quick-drying glues as the best for bonding Tyvek both to itself and to a variety of substrates. DuPont also claims that the following adhesives are highly effective:

Heat-sealing can be used to melt Tyvek and cause it to bond to itself, but this form of bonding tends to create puckers in the otherwise flat material. Dielectric bonding can be effective in some circumstances, as is ultrasonic sealing.[4]

Uses

Tyvek coveralls

Recycling

Though Tyvek superficially resembles paper (for example, it can be written and printed on), it is plastic, and it cannot be recycled with paper. Some Tyvek products are marked with the #2 resin-code for HDPE, and can be collected with plastic bottles as part of some municipal curbside recycling programs. DuPont runs a program in the United States where disposable clothing, coveralls, lab coats,[26] medical packaging and other non-hazardous Tyvek disposable garments can be recycled, as well as providing a mail-in recycling program for envelopes.[27]

Recently, plastic bag recycling has become more prevalent. According to the American Chemistry Council, these plastic film drop-off locations accept Tyvek.[28]

References

  1. admin. "Tyvek ® - Tyvek ® Brand Applications - DuPont USA".
  2. "DuPont™ Tyvek® Marks 40 Years of Energy Efficiency and Protection".
  3. Product Handbook for DuPont Tyvek
  4. "Seaming and sealing". DuPont. 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  5. DuPont: Tyvek Weatherization Systems
  6. Factsheet 54  Drivers Licences: Upgrading from Paper to Photo
  7. Costa Rica Tyvek Envelopes
  8. Isle of Man Bradvek Banknotes
  9. Haitian Tyvek Banknotes
  10. Boosting SDF’s Nuclear Accident Response Capabilities. Japan Security Watch. July 13th 2011. Accessed 11th October 2014.
  11. "Memoribilia:Fiorucci's Steps". Fiorucci Design Office S.r.l. 2004. Archived from the original (Flash) on 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  12. "Tyvek Short - Shop American Apparel". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
  13. FORKER, JENNIFER. "Crafters Find Tyvek Can Do More Than Wrap Houses". The Associated Press / CNBC. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  14. McNall, Ralph. "Tyvek Backpack". Forum Post.
  15. Doctorow, Cory. "Clever-folding tyvek San Francisco map, with out-of-the-way landmarks". Blog Post. Boing Boing. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  16. https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iNkOcSYkkMR3RZ-lcvAVBvWdNyhw?docId=5756974. Retrieved February 14, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. How to make a Tyvek Wallet on YouTube
  18. "Material".
  19. http://en.theutlab.com/web/lightwing/
  20. "No Canvas, No Leather: A Reboot for the Sneaker". The New York Times. 31 August 2014.
  21. uk.orakel.com
  22. http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20120014272.pdf
  23. Dashcam on a Space Shuttle - FRONT WINDOW launch. 2 March 2011 via YouTube.
  24. "Tyvek-based Printers". Doranix Printers. Doranix. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  25. Printed Tyvek Labels - Fast Turnaround - Hi-Tech Printing & Labeling - Fabriclabels.com
  26. Dilan (10 December 2015). "Cheap Lab Coats Review". Science Mirror.
  27. admin. "Recycling - DuPont Tyvek® for Industrial Packaging - DuPont USA".
  28. "PlasticFilmRecycling".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tyvek.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.