What Makes up the Firefighter Suit?

The firefighter suit is made up of 2 main matirials: Kevlar and Nomex.

Nomex
Nomex was developed in the 1960's however it was not marketed until 1967. This material is flame and melt proof so it resists the possibility of melting in extreme heat conditions. Nomex is not only used in firefighter suits but it is used in military clothing and in industrial workers. It lasts 2-3 times longer than any other protective fabric.

Kevlar
Kevlar is a synthetic fiber that was created in 1965. It was created by the company DuPont and is light weight, durable, and flexible. It is also used in attire for the Olympics.


DuPont
DuPont, the company that created Nomex and Kevlar, is an American Chemical Company. The full title of the company is E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company known commonly in America as DuPont. DuPont was founded in July 1802 as a gun powder mill by Eleuthere Irenee du Pont. It was the 3rd largest chemical company in the world based on market capitalization. In the 19th century DuPont was the largest supplier of gun powder. In 2009 it was the largest chemical company in the world based on revenue. In the 20th century DuPont developed many new polymers including Nomex and Kevlar which make up the firefighter suits. Thermal protection is top priority at DuPont. They develop things that are flame resistant so they do not melt, drip, support combustion, and the flame resistance cannot be washed out.