Kevlar or Nomex for better protection?
The textile industry has experienced increasing changes to adapt to market demand and the requirements of certain domains. Kevlar and Nomex are two leading examples of these innovations. Developed by the French company DuPont in the 1960s, they have become essential materials in the professional clothing sector.
What explains the place they occupy? And what is the difference between them?
They are both 100% synthetic aramid fibers. That is, they offer better protection against risks such as flashover and chemical splashes.
Which material to choose?
They are both known for:
Lightness: all people exercising jobs that expose their lives to danger are supposed to have a set of equipment and tools essential to their missions. Let’s take the example of a police officer during a riot, he must bring with him elbow and leg pads, a helmet, a truncheon, handcuff cases, pistol and ammunition… and many other tools that will make his job easier. The last thing he wants is to put on a heavy uniform that can hinder his performance, hence the importance of the lightness of the fabric of these outfits.
- Comfort: their texture is flexible and soft, which gives a garment that follows the movement of its user. In addition, they allow the body to get rid of moisture through vaporization.
- Durability: these outfits will be used in extreme circumstances, for risky missions, and for a fairly long time. So, it is very important to consider the strength and stability of the fabric for maximum usage.
We can say at this level that Kevlar is to be favored because it retains its shape very well against external substances.
- Resistance to chemical substances: They are known for their ability not to decompose when they come into contact with any chemical product.
- UV resistance: this is an essential attribute of outfits for police, military and firefighters. Exposure to these rays can have adverse health consequences, ranging from sunburn to skin cancer.
Kevlar
Created in 1965, this fiber is part of the para-aramid family. Its main feature is tensile strength. They even proved that for equal weight, it is five times stronger than steel.
It was originally designed for war purposes, to equip soldiers with bulletproof vests. Due to its ability to resist breaking, heat, abrasion and cutting, other sectors have also started to use it, such as the police and fire brigade.
Nomex
Unlike the first fiber, Nomex is a meta-aramid. It was created by the same company in 1967. It has properties similar to Kevlar but it is characterized more with its resistance to heat. Which explains its popularity in clothing for firefighters.
Nomex has proven protection against intense heat and flames, such as incendiary bombs, explosive ordnance, fires and electric arcs.
What makes this fiber special is its ability to react to stimuli. When the Nomex fiber is exposed to extreme heat, the properties of the fabric are changed to capture more energy in the fabric and provide additional protection to the wearer by delaying heat transfer to the wearer’s body. This resistance does not decrease with use or washing of the garment.
More often than not, professionals use Nomex and Kevlar to bridge the small differences that exist and to ensure maximum efficiency in garments.
If you are looking for a textile supplier that uses these two fabrics, Raff Military Textile is the best. It is known for high quality products and competitive prices. You can contact them here:
? +90 535 052 68 22