Tyvek

Tyvek is a flashspun sheet of HDPE fibres, this can feel anywhere between a cloth and paper. Both are very hard to tear and come with some serious bonuses over competitors like paper and cloth. Most commonly seen in packaging as resilient envelope or seen being warn in labs as protection against biohazards Tyvek has a lot of uses.

Advantages

• Very hard to tear but can be cut easily by scissors
• Good strength to weight ratio
• Waterproof but allow water vapour to pass through
• Can be treated to have anti bacterial properties
• Can be drawn on and treated like paper for many purposes.
• 100% recyclable
• Can survive sterilization processes used in laboratories.

Disadvantages

• Flammable
• Can not be as easily recycled as paper
• Not hospitable to all adhesives

Features

• Made from HDPE fibres which are spun into sheets
• Can be brought in very large amounts
• Is not weakened through folding as rapidly as paper
• Can be purchased in number of grades to suit purpose.

Examples

Festival wristbands

Covers housing developments

Makes envelopes

 Slim wallets 

Used as protective gear

 Used in consumer products

Summary