| Tyvek is a brand of flashspun high-density | | | | service for some of its Priority Mail and Express |
| polyethylene fibers. Tyvek is the name is a | | | | Mail packages. New Zealand used it for its driver's |
| registered trademark of DuPont. The material is | | | | licenses from 1986 to 1999, and Costa Rica, the |
| very strong and is difficult to tear but can easily | | | | Isle of Man and Haiti have made banknotes from |
| be cut with scissors or any other sharp object. | | | | it. These banknotes are no longer in circulation and |
| Water vapor can pass through Tyvek easily | | | | have become collector items. Some backpackers |
| making it highly breathable but stops liquid water. | | | | are now using homemade Tyvek ground cloths, |
| The material lends itself to a variety of | | | | finding that they are lighter, cheaper, and pack |
| applications including medical packaging, tyvek | | | | smaller than polypropylene tarpaulins. |
| envelopes, car covers, air and water intrusion | | | | Tyvek coveralls are one-piece garments made of |
| barriers, labels, wristbands, mycology, and | | | | Tyvek, usually white in color. They are often |
| graphics. Tyvek is sometimes erroneously called | | | | worn by mechanics over their clothes to avoid |
| Tyvex. | | | | contact with oil and fuel. They can also be worn |
| Tyvek is a nonwoven product consisting of | | | | for painting to protect skin and clothes from |
| spunbond olefin fiber. It was discovered by | | | | splattered paint, for installation of fiberglass |
| DuPont researcher Jim White in 1955 who saw | | | | insulation, by workers in laboratories and |
| polyethylene fluff coming out of a pipe in a | | | | cleanrooms, and any other use where a |
| DuPont experimental lab. In 1965 it was | | | | disposable, one-time use coverall is needed. Tyvek |
| trademarked and was first introduced for | | | | coveralls are also used for some light hazardous |
| commercial purposes in 1967. | | | | materials applications, but do not provide the level |
| According to DuPont, the fibers are just | | | | of protection of a full hazmat suit. Tychem is a |
| 0.5–10 µm compared to 75 µm for a single | | | | sub-brand of Tyvek rated for a higher level of |
| stand of human hair. The nondirectional fibers | | | | protection. DuPont makes Tyvek clothing in |
| called plexifilaments are first spun and then | | | | different styles from laboratory coats and aprons |
| bonded together by pressure and heat. | | | | to complete head-to-toe coveralls with hoods and |
| Tyvek is used by the United States postal | | | | boots. |