Personal Protection in the Petrochemical and Chemical Industry
When you work with combustible and unpredictable materials every day, you need a garment with flame-resistant fabric as well as chemical protection.
DuPont understands the hazards you face – the potentially explosive atmospheres, the chemical hazards and flash fires – and we work hard to continually improve our cutting-edge technologies that have kept operators and technicians safe in the industry for years.
DuPont™ Tyvek®
Tyvek® protective garments help offer a barrier against small size solid particles and are resistant to low-level liquid aerosols for use in different sorts of oil and gas industry applications where basic protection is required such as industrial cleaning and maintenance, and land clean-up. They are breathable, lightweight and comfortable, helping make even the dirtiest jobs easier to get through. Tyvek® products have antistatic properties that help prevent accidents in explosive atmospheres.
DuPont™ Tychem®
The Tychem® product range helps offer lightweight protection against hundreds of wet chemicals and acids, starting at low toxic chemicals all the way up to organic hazards. It is designed for oil handling, land decontamination, production plant decommissioning, industrial cleaning and maintenance, tank and oil tanker cleaning, spill clean-up and accident intervention, the gas supply sector, typical chemical industry applications, or where protection against biohazards is required. Tychem® products also have antistatic properties for better safety in explosive zones.
DuPont™ Nomex®
The flame-resistant properties of Nomex® are inherent in the molecular structure of the fibre and not chemically added which means they cannot be washed or worn away. Garments made of Nomex® fibre are comfortable, breathable, and resistant to tears and abrasion. They also offer an excellent return on investment, since the thermal protection is built right in, and will not wear off or wash out over time.
Not only does Nomex® offer inherent flame-resistant properties but most Nomex® solutions also include a permanent antistatic fibre. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can generate sparks with energy levels sufficient to ignite surrounding vapours, aerosols of flammable liquids or dust particles, leading to an explosion. The garment’s antistatic property is therefore fundamental to helping protect workers in such hazardous environments.
DUPONT BRAND OFFERINGS
CASE STUDIES
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Offshore Rig Evacuation Chutes
Viking Life-Saving Equipment is committed to safety at sea and goes to extraordinary lengths to protect customers from offshore danger. Find out how Viking uses DuPont™ Kevlar® and DuPont™ Nomex® fibre in offshore-rig evacuation chutes.
INFORMATION & IDEAS
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Because Tyvek® Makes the Difference
Touch any garment from the comprehensive DuPont ™ Tyvek® product range and you immediately notice the difference. Antistatically-treated Tyvek® is a unique and versatile material that is tough and exceptionally low-linting, yet extremely light and soft. It is permeable to air and water vapour, yet repels water-based liquids and aerosols, as well as fine particles and fibres.
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Professor Tytonius & Tyvek® Protection
DuPont introduces Professor Victor Tytonius, the cyber scientist who specialises in worker protection and chemical protective clothing and materials.
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Nomex® & the Thermo-Man® Test
DuPont™ Thermo-Man® is a life-size mannequin equipped with 122 heat sensors dressed in test garments and exposed to a flash fire with temperatures rising up to 1,000°C.
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Nomex® for Heat Stress Protection
Heat stress is a dangerous condition in any situation, but for firefighters it can be especially life threatening. In fact, heat stress is the number-one cause of casualties among firefighters. Nomex® fibre helps reduce heat stress due to its higher air permeability.
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Nomex® Garment Weight Benefits
Typical protective fabrics made of Nomex® fibres can be up to 40% lighter than cotton and cotton-blended fabrics which were treated with flame-retardant chemicals.
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Cost Effectiveness of Nomex®
DuPont™ Nomex® fibre is a highly cost-effective solution in terms of cost per wear thanks to its exceptional durability.
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Nomex® Moisture Management Benefits
Fabrics and garments made of DuPont™ Nomex® help enable light-weight solutions with excellent moisture management.
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Electric Static Discharge Protection Nomex®
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can lead to the generation of sparks with energy levels sufficient to ignite possible surrounding vapours, aerosols of flammable liquids or dust particles, leading to an explosion.
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DuPont™ Nomex® Partner Program
The DuPont™ Nomex® Partner Program is the answer to those in Europe who seek innovative protective solutions from a trusted value chain. DuPont™ Nomex® Partners, identified with the Nomex® Partner seal, are carefully selected for their commitment to ethical principles, strong quality and innovation orientation, and detailed knowledge of end user needs.
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Chemical Splash Protection Nomex®
Chemical hazards can occur in conjunction with thermal hazards, such as accidental splashes of chemical products onto protective clothing, or through leakages of chemical products.
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Kevlar® Quality Programme
In Europe, only products that meet DuPont standards can carry the distinctive DuPont™ Kevlar® Power of Performance Technology label.
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Cut Standards for Protective Gloves
To facilitate the choice of mechanical (cut) protective clothing, both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the European Union (EU) have developed cut standards for selection criteria.