How time flies — one of the safety market’s most well-known brands, DuPont™ Tyvek®, marks its 40th anniversary as the company says demand continues to be strong for the fabric’s many applications. Combining characteristics of paper, film and fabric, Tyvek® is lightweight, strong, breathable and resistant to water, a wide range of hazardous materials, chemical degradation and tears.

DuPont introduced Tyvek® in 1967. The initial discovery was made when a DuPont researcher recognized the potential value of a high strength white polyethylene fiber formed in samples taken from a new DuPont high-density polyethylene process. A program was established to develop the new material into an engineered sheet structure now registered as Tyvek®, which today is produced at DuPont facilities in Richmond, Va., and Luxembourg. Tyvek® is 100 percent recyclable.

The most commonly known application is DuPontTM Tyvek® HomeWrap®, but Tyvek® is also used in protective garments, envelopes, tags and labels, indoor and outdoor signs and banners, sterile medical and industrial packaging as well as bags, maps and car covers.

Protective garments made of Tyvek® are widely used in manufacturing, laboratory and emergency response settings. Tyvek® envelopes have been used for the Fed Ex® Pak for more than 30 years. And covers made with Tyvek® have been used to help protect everything from personal vehicles to NASA space station modules during manufacturing, transportation and storage.

New DuPont™ Tyvek® Comfort fit design coveralls were designed based on wearer input and provide workers with a more comfortable fit, better mobility and enhanced durability.