WILMINGTON, Del., and PITTSBURGH, June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DuPont and Alcoa (NYSE:AA) have collaborated to develop a new product for the commercial building and construction market that provides protection against the damage of hurricane wind-borne debris. DuPont and Alcoa are introducing an innovative new product that incorporates both companies' science and technical expertise in high-strength materials technology. Called Reynobond(R) with Kevlar(R), it is a durable architectural panel system designed to withstand wind-borne debris and wind speeds common in hurricanes up to a Category 3 storm. (Category 3 hurricanes have wind speeds up to 130 mph.) Reynobond(R) made with Kevlar(R) brand fiber acts as a safety net by helping to protect the facades of buildings from hurricane-propelled debris, frequently the main cause of hurricane damage. Reynobond(R) with Kevlar(R) combines the weight and flexibility benefits of Alcoa's Reynobond(R) aluminum composite material with the impact-resistant strength of DuPont(TM) Kevlar(R) fiber. "Partnering with DuPont provided Alcoa the opportunity to enhance our lightweight, widely used Reynobond(R) aluminum composite material to a new level of usage by inserting DuPont's ultra strong Kevlar(R) fabric into the architectural panel," said Eric Bassel, president of Alcoa Architectural Products. Reynobond(R) with Kevlar(R) is a lightweight aluminum composite material that helps provide protection for a building structure with a superior strength to weight ratio further enhanced by the extraordinary high strength of DuPont(TM) Kevlar(R) brand fiber, which is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis. Kevlar(R) is used around the world as the life-saving material in bullet-resistant vests and body armor. In this application, Kevlar(R) provides superior impact resistance, similar to how it works as a protective barrier around jet turbine blades and luggage containers for aircraft to help shield passengers from flying debris, should an explosion occur. http://www.alcoa.com
