With a global reputation for innovation and development in heat and flame protection for professional and voluntary firefighters, DuPont Protection Technologies has announced the launch of the new Nomex® 3DP outer shell fabric with intelligent Flux Technology. Building on over 40 years of successfully keeping firefighters safe, this new patented outer shell fabric is the latest innovation from DuPont and completes its Nomex® portfolio. Its integrated fabric technology provides extended escape time and gives extra seconds of wearer safety in situations where every second counts. Garments made from Nomex® 3DP also offer firefighters the benefit of high comfort levels.
The new DuPont™ Nomex® 3DP outer shell fabric comprises two layers of fabric woven together using an intelligent weaving structure patented by DuPont as ‘Flux Technology’. The inner layer consists of DuPont™ Kevlar® with an outer layer of DuPont™ Nomex®. With different thermal shrinkage patterns, each layer reacts differently to heat flux, triggering increased levels of insulation. When a heat flux hits the outer layer of DuPont™ Nomex® the fibre reacts and thickens to increase the insulation barrier while the inner layer of DuPont™ Kevlar® offers high mechanical strength, providing three-dimensional protection and giving extra seconds of safety.
The intelligent weaving structure of Nomex® 3DP provides a garment that is breathable, comfortable and flexible. This solution also optimises durability and mechanical strength to enable longer wear-life and lower repair and replacement costs, while retaining excellent aesthetics in use.
To ensure the fabric can withstand the rigours of every day fire fighting, turnout gear made with the new Nomex® 3DP fabric has undergone an extensive 12 month wear trial, across different fire brigades located in three different countries. Mr Hans Wetzel, Senior Fire Officer of the Reutlingen Fire Brigade in Germany, explained: “We participated in the wear trial of a garment made with the DuPont™ Nomex® 3DP outer shell and were thoroughly impressed. We tested it to its limits, including laundering processes, various exercises and wood fire container tests. The garment and the outershell were comfortable to wear and work in and the heat protection was excellent. We wouldn’t hesitate to wear this garment in any fire fighting situation.”
Frederique Favier, Application Development Leader Nomex® Personal Protection, commented: “Through our long-standing partnerships with fire and rescue services around the world, we understand the need to provide turnout gear with the highest levels of protection that is still cost-effective, comfortable and hard wearing. We worked alongside firefighters to develop the Nomex® 3DP outer shell fabric to offer an innovative solution to keep the wearer safe. In conjunction with the wear trials, we also tested garments made from Nomex® 3DP using DuPont™ Thermo-Man®, one of the most advanced thermal burn injury evaluation devices in the world. The results revealed that Nomex® 3DP was able to provide excellent protection with very low burn rates, providing increased time for firefighters to make a safe escape.”
Since its invention in the 1950’s, DuPont has been protecting millions of people worldwide with the Nomex® fibre, a world leading inherently flame resistant and breathable fibre that is woven into fabric.