DuPont today announced the launch of DuPont(TM) Nomex(R) XF, a unique solution for flame barrier applications in the aerospace industry, as part of a focus on protecting people. Nomex(R) XF is a novel material that helps protect aluminum fuselage aircraft by providing a robust, durable and lightweight flame barrier that can help prevent outside fire from penetrating an aircraft cabin, allowing passengers additional time to escape such a hazard. It also can help prevent flame propagation so that aircraft insulation will not spread fire.

"DuPont has a long history of delivering innovations to support the aerospace industry," said Marc Doyle, president, DuPont Protection Technologies. "DuPont(TM) Kevlar(R) and Nomex(R) fiber have been successfully used by the aerospace industry for more than 40 years and Nomex(R) XF is the latest step in our commitment to protecting commercial aircraft and their passengers. This novel material addresses an important industry need and shows how a collaborative effort can help bring innovative solutions to the market."

Developed in response to customer needs, Nomex(R) XF was designed for use in commercial aircraft and can be readily incorporated into designs compliant with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 25.853 and 25.856. It is intended for use in applications that require flame resistance up to 1,100 degrees Celsius (2,000 degrees Fahrenheit). The Nomex(R) XF flame barrier offers flexible, thin and very lightweight protection and can be incorporated into thermal acoustic insulation constructions; it has no flame penetration after 10 minutes exposure, more than doubling the burnthrough time requirements of FAR 25.856(b).

Nomex(R) fiber has been in thermal protection around the world for more than 40 years and DuPont is a leading provider of lightweight and flame resistant solutions to the global aerospace industry. Honeycomb composites made of Nomex(R) and Kevlar(R) can be found in aircraft parts such as flooring panels, interior walls, storage bins, leading and trailing edges on wings, control surfaces, fairings, engine nacelles and many more parts. Their excellent strength-to-weight ratio has provided manufacturers with vital cost-effective benefits such as energy savings, payload increases and has proven to be a leading weight-saving solution for the aerospace industry.