DuPont™ Kevlar®, the high-performance material that has helped save thousands of lives around the world, marked its 40th anniversary with a host of new and emerging innovations – ranging from an in-home storm shelter made with Kevlar® that helps provide families protection from the dangers of hurricanes and tornadoes, to emerging ultra-strong protective applications in supporting the “soldier of the future.”

DuPont™ Kevlar®, an organic fiber in the aramid family, uniquely combines high strength with light weight, and comfort with protection. Kevlar® is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis, providing reliable performance and solid strength. The rigid molecular structure of Kevlar® also provides additional properties such as thermal stability and high resistance to many threats and dangers, including protecting against thermal hazards up to 800°F.

Groundbreaking research by DuPont scientist Stephanie Kwolek in the field of liquid crystalline polymer solutions in the mid-1960s formed the basis for the commercial preparation of the Kevlar® aramid fiber. Kwolek has earned broad global accolades for her work – including receiving the 1996 National Medal of Technology from U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Kevlar® is perhaps best known for its use in bullet- and stab-resistant body armor. In law enforcement applications alone, nearly 3,000 officers have survived potentially fatal or disabling injuries because they were wearing personal body armor. In addition, helmets of DuPont™ Kevlar® have been standard issue for the U.S. Army since the Gulf War in 1991. The balance of unusual properties enables the broad range of Kevlar® applications today from ballistic vests to cut-resistant gloves to blast and flame barriers.

Today, DuPont™ Kevlar® helps protect the everyday heroes around the world who put their lives on the line each day – military and law enforcement professionals, firefighters and other first responders. But because threats are dynamic and ever-changing, DuPont continues to put its science to work – developing innovations to help protect people, properties and operations – every day.

While Kevlar® was initially developed 40 years ago in Wilmington, new and emerging technologies under development today by both DuPont and its partners are relying on the unique attributes of Kevlar® in diversifying applications.

DuPont recently introduced its StormRoom™ with Kevlar® - a residential storm shelter made with Kevlar® that is engineered to help provide residents protection from the dangers of hurricanes and tornadoes. According to weather experts, when a hurricane hits land, its winds can top more than 150 miles per hour, toppling trees and power lines, and sending debris flying through the air – making many common items and building materials dangerous weapons. The DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® is available in rectangular configurations and features DuPont™ Kevlar® sheathing built inside reinforced wall panels. When properly installed, the shelter literally acts as a safety net, helping to stop and deflect wind-borne debris.

The new Airbus A380 – the world’s largest-ever commercial jetliner which seats nearly 800 passengers -- relies on the unique lightweight and high-performance attributes of DuPont Kevlar® to reduce weight versus traditional materials in its 308-ton frame. Kevlar® is an enabling technology in Airbus A380, including a new honeycomb composite made from Kevlar® which is found from its flooring to interior walls to wing flaps. By replacing traditional heavier materials, Kevlar® can help dramatically increase the structural integrity of the aircraft, while enabling a substantial weight savings for improved functionality and performance. The Airbus A380, which made its successful maiden voyage with much fanfare earlier this year in France, was scheduled to begin commercial airline service after Singapore Airlines took its first delivery in 2006.

Current DuPont research and development initiatives with Kevlar® include working as a founding partner with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the U.S. Department of Defense in developing new protective materials for the “soldier of the future” as part of the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN). The ISN's goal is to increase the "protection and survivability" of U.S. soldiers with new technologies. Reducing logistical footprints are especially important to an in-field soldier whose standard-issue gear now weighs upwards of 100 pounds. The goal is reducing the load to about 45 pounds. Lightweight, breathable body armor on a soldier is the key need for tomorrow’s military.

Additional new innovations relying on the unique attributes of Kevlar® include:

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