DuPont has announced that independent testing of its new Tyvek APX fabric for personal protective equipment (PPE) demonstrates exceptional breathability, reducing perceived heat strain and shortening recovery time compared to traditional protective clothing.
The testing, conducted in collaboration with Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, combined advanced simulations with human trials.
Using biometric monitoring, researchers measured skin and core body temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and sweat loss to validate real-world performance.
Results show that Tyvek APX allows for a slower rise in core and skin temperature, reducing heat strain and enhancing wearer comfort during high temperatures and strenuous activity.
“DuPont is committed to data-driven approaches that go beyond traditional PPE testing,” said Aldjia Begriche, Global Application Development Leader, DuPont Personal Protection.
“Our collaboration with Empa confirmed that Tyvek APX enhances comfort without compromising safety.”
Simon Annaheim, Scientific Group Leader at Empa, added: “By measuring biometric responses, we gain a complete understanding of how protective clothing interacts with the human body, particularly regarding comfort in real-world conditions.”
Phase three of the DuPont-Empa collaboration is under way, expanding human trials to further validate and generalise these findings.