Technical Guide for NOMEX Brand Fiber - Naked Whiz

1 Technical InformationTechnical Guidefor NOMEX Brand FiberH-52720 Revised July, 2001 (Replaces H-52703 April, 1999)TABLE OF CONTENTS Section I: Introduction to NOMEX Brand Fiber1 What Is NOMEX ?1 Development and Molecular Structure ofNOMEX Brand Fiber1 Products of NOMEX Type 430 NOMEX 2 Type 450 NOMEX 2 Type 455 NOMEX ( NOMEX III)2 Type 462 NOMEX ( NOMEX IIIA)2 Type N102 Texturized Filament Yarn2 Type N104 Dyeable Filament Yarn3 NOMEX Producer-Colored Fibers3 NOMEX CGF and NOMEX THERMACOLOR 3 NOMEX OMEGA 3 Spunlaced Fabrics3 Section II: Properties of NOMEX 5 Fiber Properties5 Fiber and Fabric Test Methods5 Tensile and Thermal Properties5 Effect of Yarn Twist7 Effect of Dry Heat7 Effect of Moisture10 Moisture Regain and Dimensional Stability10 Flammability, Smoke and Off-gas Generation11 Resistance to Degradation11 Abrasion11 Laundering and Wear Life12 Chemical Resistance12 Vapors17UV Light17 Radiation19 Insects and Fungi19 Section III.

2 Applications Information20 Applications Overview20 Thermal Protective Apparel20 Applications20 Essential Characteristics21 Test Methods22 Cleaning28 Filtration28 Applications28 Temperature Resistance29 Acid Resistance29 Thermal-Resistant Furnishings30 Section IV: Availability of NOMEX 31 Packaging31 Yarn Packages31 Shipping Containers31 Staple Bale Size and Compaction32 Section V: Toxicology33 Background33 Toxicity33 Dermatology33 Appendix I34 Fiber and Fabric Test Method Descriptions andBulletin References34 NOMEX , NOMEX CGF , NOMEX THERMACOLOR , KEVLAR , NOMEX OMEGA , THERMO-MAN , SONTARA , TEFLON and TEFAIRE areregistered trademarks of du Pont de Nemours and E89 , Z-200 , Active Flame Protection , and Filter Advisor are trademarks of du Pont de Nemours and Guide for NOMEX Brand Fiber1 SECTION I: INTRODUCTION TO NOMEX Brand Fiber What Is NOMEX ?

3 NOMEX is a DuPont registered trademark for its familyof aromatic polyamide (aramid) fibers. This family consistsof staple fibers, continuous filament yarns, paper, andspunlaced fabrics. Uses for staple, yarn, and spunlacedproducts include apparel fabrics to protect against flash fireand electric arc exposure; firefighter garments; fabrics andspun yarns for filtration applications; insulation in fireresistant thermal protective apparel; rubber reinforcement;and in transportation textiles such as aircraft uses for the paper products include insulation inelectric motors and transformers, wire wrapping, andhoneycombed strength members in many aircraft. Thistechnical Guide focuses on products and end uses for thestaple and yarn products.

4 Information on otherapplications may be obtained from the Advanced FibersSystems Customer Inquiry flame-retardant treated (FRT) materials, NOMEX Brand fibers are inherently flame resistant(FR): the flameresistance is an inherent property of the polymer will not diminish during the life of the Fiber . The Fiber slow stiffness and high elongation give it textile-likecharacteristics which allow processing on conventionaltextile equipment. These and other properties are discussedin detail in this this Guide FR will designate materials that areinherently flame-resistant, such as NOMEX andKEVLAR . FRT will designate materials that have beentreated with a flame-retardant chemical to make themflame resistant, such as FRT its introduction, the product lines of NOMEX have been augmented to include a variety of natural andcolored fibers and blends, each with unique propertiesdesigned to meet specific end-use requirements.

5 Thegeneral classes of these products are discussed in thefollowing section. Table I-1 on page 4 lists some specificcommercial products and their end uses. Development and Molecular Structure ofNOMEX Brand FiberNOMEX was developed by a DuPont research teamseeking a Fiber which would add thermal resistance tothe physical properties of nylon. This research, begun inthe late 1950 s, led to subsequent laboratory production andextensive evaluation of a Fiber originally called of the trademark NOMEX nylon wasannounced in 1963, when pilot plant facilities commencedoperation. By 1967, NOMEX was available 1972 the tradename NOMEX aramid was meta-aramid, poly(meta-phenyleneisophthal-amide), is prepared from meta-phenylenediamine andisophthaloyl chloride in an amide solvent.

6 It is a longchain polyamide in which at least 85% of the amidelinkages are attached directly to two aromatic rings. Themeta oriented phenylene forms bends in the polymerchain, reducing chain rigidity as compared to the paraorientation in the chemically similar KEVLAR para-aramid chain. This flexible polymer chain givesNOMEX more textile-like qualities while retaininghigh temperature properties similar to KEVLAR .The aromatic rings and the conjugated amide bonds thatlink them together are particularly strong and resistant tochemical attack. They also provide a high degree of heatresistance to the polymer backbone. As a result, NOMEX does not melt and drip, and merely chars when exposed tohigh temperatures for prolonged NOMEX Meta-aramid SynthesisCOClCOClNH2NH2+=CONHCONHCONHNHn COisophthaloyl chloridemeta-phenylenediamineNOMEX meta-aramid [poly(meta-phenyleneisophthalamide)]2 Technical Guide for NOMEX Brand Fiber Products of NOMEX This Guide contains Technical information on continuousfilament yarns and staple fibers of NOMEX , includinga listing of the products sold in North America.

7 OutsideNorth America, contact your local DuPont Representative,since product names and type designations may bedifferent. Type 430 NOMEX A high crystalinity natural filament yarn of NOMEX withhigher strength and chemical resistance than staple spunyarns. Type 430 is used where the aesthetics and propertiesof a filament yarn are required. It is available in lightdeniers for textile applications or higher deniers for rubberhose reinforcement applications. Type 430 is used infirefighters turnout gear shells and liners, coated fabrics,electrical insulation, radiator hoses, and industrial laundrypress covers. Generally, it is used in its natural colorbecause of difficulty in producing a uniformly dyed product. Type 450 NOMEX A natural staple Fiber .

8 It has higher crystallinity andstrength than Type 455 and 462 fibers, and is sold as a100% meta-aramid staple in various cut lengths. It isused in applications requiring high tensile properties, aswell as chemical and thermal stability, such as in hot gasfiltration fabrics, sewing threads, zipper tapes andfirefighters turnout facing fabrics. It is also used in itsnatural color for knit products such as balaclavas andunderwear. Although dyeable, it is less dyeable than theType 455 and 462 staple products, and is not available asa dye merged staple. Type 455 NOMEX ( NOMEX III)Type 455 staple of NOMEX , a patented blend ofNOMEX and KEVLAR Brand fibers, was introduced tofill the need for higher performance thermal protectiveapparel.

9 Type 455 staple when converted to fabric isknown commercially as NOMEX III. It offers severalimprovements over yarns or fabrics produced from Type450 staple. However, because of its lower crystallinity, itproduces yarn and fabrics that are slightly lower in strengththan those produced from Type 450 versus Type 450 include: Increased resistance to break open under thermal presence of 5% KEVLAR inhibits thermalshrinkage, thus reducing the probability of break-openand the subsequent loss of the protective barrier. Easier dyeability. Type 455 NOMEX can beuniformly dyed in fabric or yarn form to the manycolors required for civilian protective apparel. Type455 NOMEX is sold as a dye merged staple. Fabric Appearance. Crease retention and wrinkleresistance can be imparted to NOMEX III orNOMEX IIIA by autoclaving pressed garments at30 psig steam pressure.

10 Although not as strong as thememory of heat-set polyester, these memory forcesprovide significant advantages in appearance and easeof care vs. many competitive materials, orunautoclaved garments. Type 462 NOMEX ( NOMEX IIIA)Type 462 staple of NOMEX is a blend of NOMEX and KEVLAR Brand fibers and P-140, a proprietarystatic dissipative Fiber . When converted to fabric it isknown commercially as NOMEX IIIA and is used forthermal protective apparel. It offers all the features ofType 455 staple plus a higher level of static dissipationin fabric form. The P-140 Fiber dissipates staticgenerated from fabric-to-fabric and fabric-to-surfacerubbing, minimizes the contribution of clothing to statichazards and reduces apparent electric field strength andnuisance static.