DuPont™ Tyvek® is a family of tough, durable sheet products made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Continuous, fine, HDPE fibers are spun into a sheet, then bonded with heat and pressure to interconnect the fibers. Depending on the bonding process, Tyvek® is paper-like (hard structure) or textile-like (soft structure).
Both hard structure and soft structure are easily printable, sewable and glueable; however, hard structure and soft structure look, feel and perform differently.
Hard structure (Type 10, identified by style numbers beginning in 10 or 41) is paper-like, smooth and stiff. Compared with soft structure, it has lower coefficient of friction, is stronger and smoother. It can also hold water and can maintain a three-dimensional shape when folded or sewn (dead-folded).
Soft structure Type 14 is soft, fabric-like and drapeable. Sewing, gluing and, to a limited extent, ultrasonic seaming and heat sealing, may be used in fabricating these styles.
DuPont™ Tyvek® gives anything you print a more distinctive look than paper ever could. It feels more natural than synthetic films, and has far better flat, precision folding qualities. It can even easily function as a fabric. Also, DuPont™ Tyvek® is strong and tear resistant, yet weighs only half as much as paper.
This interactive tool helps you select the Tyvek® styles based on the different applications.