DuPont Innovation Helps Allergy Sufferers Get A More Restful Night's Sleep

Main Category: IT / Internet / E-mail
Also Included In: Allergy;  Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia
Article Date: 03 Aug 2007 - 0:00 PDT


DuPont (NYSE: DD) today introduced a new innovation with Hybrid Membrane Technology (HMT) that will allow pillow and mattress covers to deliver unsurpassed protection from a range of harmful allergens without sacrificing personal comfort.

"For allergy sufferers, getting a full night of uninterrupted sleep can be a real challenge. Mattress and pillow protectors made with DuPont HMT will help allergy sufferers sleep better by providing an effective barrier that has been scientifically proven to seal off even the most microscopic allergens," Vice President & General Manager - DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems Thomas G. Powell, said. "Vinyl and films provide a high level of protection, but these materials are noisy and trap body heat and moisture near the skin. Alternatively, materials such as cotton are more comfortable but do not provide an effective barrier against microscopic allergens. With DuPont HMT, consumers benefit from the optimal combination of protection and comfort."

"We pride ourselves on bringing innovative, breakthrough products to the market, and we feel that the new allergen barrier pillow and mattress covers made with DuPont HMT fit perfectly with our approach," said Dave Modena, vice president of merchandising, firstSTREET -- the first retailer to offer sleep products with DuPont HMT. "There are a number of sleep products that provide barrier protection, but most of these suffer from a lack of comfort. We view sleep products with DuPont HMT as being a step ahead of the market, in that they deliver the same or better levels of barrier protection while providing the added benefit of a softer feel and improved comfort."

DuPont HMT is incorporated onto commonly available fabrics during the manufacture of the pillow or mattress cover, resulting in a material that:

-- Provides protection against dust mites, pet dander, pollen, mold and fungal spores;

-- Rivals the performance of films and vinyl but, unlike these products, has a comfortable and "breathable" fabric-like feel;

-- Delivers a higher level of protection compared to traditional materials such as cotton or polyester fabrics with 95 percent filtration efficiency of particles as small as 1 micron;

-- Demonstrates excellent durability and performance, even after repeated washings.

DuPont HMT is one of the latest innovations from DuPont and is a unique offering for air and liquid filtration that is poised to fill the performance gap between traditional nonwovens and microporous films. Produced using a proprietary new spinning process, DuPont HMT adds allergen protection and breathability to bedding products; provides water resistance and breathability to apparel; improves flux/barrier performance for air and liquid filtration applications; and can significantly improve safety, durability, power and energy performance in a variety of battery and capacitor applications. Introduced less than a year ago, DuPont HMT recently received a prestigious IDEA Achievement Award at The International Engineered Fabrics Conference and Expo (IDEA '07).

DuPont - one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 16 years ago - has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment like Hybrid Membrane Technology. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

DuPont
http://www.dupont.com

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