More Bullet Stopping power from DuPont

DuPont has announced the availability of DuPont™ Kevlar® XP, a new patented technology that provides ballistic and trauma protection in a more comfortable body armour solution.

Both DuPont and independent tests show that Kevlar XP consistently stops bullets within the first three layers of a vest designed with a total of 11 layers. The remaining layers of Kevlar XP absorb the energy of the bullet, resulting in less trauma, or backface deformation, to the vest wearer.

Based on DuPont experience, significantly more layers are typically required to stop a bullet in other commercially available lightweight technologies.Kevlar XP will initially be available for body armour, but DuPont already is developing additional ballistic applications for the future, as well as products for other industries.

"In our experience, we have never seen a technology that works as effectively as Kevlar XP at stopping bullets and reducing body trauma in a lightweight solution. This is an exciting new ballistic technology platform and the latest example of continued innovation in personal protection products from DuPont," said Thomas G. Powell, vice president and general manager -- DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems. "Kevlar XP technology has been designed to provide end-users with higher performance body armor that is more comfortable, while meeting the most demanding requirements of current and pending global standards."

Kevlar XP typically provides a 15 per cent reduction in backface deformation and at least a 10 per cent lighter weight vest design against the most challenging National Institute of Justice (NIJ) level IIIA threat, a .44 magnum bullet. Additionally, Kevlar XP provides excellent layer to layer abrasion resistance.

Kevlar XP is targeted to the growing global market for ballistic protection - a market DuPont estimates is growing at more than 10 percent annually, and in which DuPont Kevlar has over 35 years of proven performance.

DuPont is responding to growing global needs for increased safety and security by developing new technologies and adding Kevlar fiber capacity. DuPont continues to work closely with body armor manufacturers and end-users to better understand emerging needs and to develop solutions that help to protect more lives from increasing threats.

Kevlar XP has been designed to protect those who protect us and is a critical step in DuPont's commitment to launch 1,000 new products that protect people's lives by 2015. DuPont also has committed additional resources toward meeting the growing demand for Kevlar fiber by investing $500 million in a multi-phase Kevlar production expansion to be completed in 2010 - the
company's fifth major investment in seven years.

DuPont provides many of the most trusted brands available to protect from ballistic, thermal, chemical, biological and mechanical threats. Brands such as DuPont Kevlar, Nomex, Tyvek and Tychem have been protecting people around the world for over 40 years.

• For more information on DuPont™ Kevlar® XP visit:
www.kevlarxp.dupont.com