Buildings
Structure, lining, insulation or finish depending on family.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength60
Heat resistance88
Fire performance94
Insulation48
Workability62
Circularity36
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Quick answers
Is Nomex non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: inherently FR textile. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Nomex insulate?
Thermal mark 48/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: low (fibre); papers electrically insulating.
What is the density band?
~1.38 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: DuPont 1960s (United States).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 36/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
does not melt; decomposes ~400 °C+
heat 88 · fire 94
Nomex earns its keep in systems: a beam, a batt, a fibre blend, a coated steel — rarely a lone coupon.
Products below are cultural landmarks as much as SKUs.
Sectors
Transport
Mass, fire and fatigue rewrite the grade list.
Energy
Heat, voltage and hydrogen compatibility.
Consumer
The volume that pays for the mill.
Medical / food
When allowed — extractables and allergies matter.
Defence / safety
Ballistics, FR clothing, fire stops.
Products
DuPont Nomex
1960s–
Firefighter turnout
1970s–
F1 underwear
1980s–
Transformer paper
1970s–
Honeycomb core
1970s–
Arc-flash suit
2000s–
NASA flight suit
1960s–
Meta vs para
lab
Pairings
aramid
The para-aramid strength cousin (Kevlar).
intumescent
Coatings for steel vs fibres for people.
ceramic-fiber
Higher T, worse for skin.
wool
The older inherently better-than-PE apparel fibre.
If the pairing is wrong, the material will be blamed for a system fault.
Keep exploring
More in Fire performance
🏠
Gypsum board
CaSO4·2H2O panels that buy fire time by calcining — the everyday A2/A1 lining of interiors.
Overall 59 🧯Intumescent coating
Paints that swell into insulating char — the thin-film way to give steel an R-rating without bulky boards.
Overall 58 🌡️Ceramic fibre
Spun refractory fibres for 1000–1400 °C — kiln linings, gaskets, and a respirable-fibre caution that AES grades try to ease.
Overall 62