Tyvek



Tyvek is a brand of spunbonded polyolefin, a synthetic material made of high-density polyethylene fibers; the name is a registered trademark of the DuPont Company. The material is very strong; it is difficult to tear but can easily be cut with scissors or any other sharp object. Water vapor can pass through Tyvek, but not liquid water, so the material lends itself to a variety of applications: medical packaging, envelopes, car covers, air and water intrusion barriers (housewrap) under house siding, labels, wristbands, mycology, and graphics.

Tyvek has been used by the United States Postal Service for some of its Priority Mail and Express Mail packages and for banknotes in some countries. New Zealand has also used it for their driver's licences from 1986 to 1999.

Many lightweight backpackers are now using homemade Tyvek groundcloths, finding that they are lighter, cheaper, and pack smaller than the traditional blue plastic tarps.

Tyvek coveralls are one-piece jumpsuits made of Tyvek, usually white in color. 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 from splattered paint, for installation of fiberglass insulation, by workers in laboratories and clean rooms, and any other use where a disposable, one-time use coverall is needed. Tyvek coveralls are also used for some light hazardous materials applications but do 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 from lab coats and aprons to complete head-to-toe coveralls with hoods and booties.

Tyvek can also be used to make CD and DVD sleeves, due to its useful properties that give the disc sufficient protection.

Tyvek superficially resembles paper; for example, it can be written and printed on. However, it cannot be recycled the way used paper can. Instead, DuPont runs a program in the United States where disposable clothing, coveralls, lab coats, and other Tyvek disposable garments can be recycled.

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