Process energy / dust
Mills, fibres, isocyanates, metal fume or silica — name the actual agent.
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
Safety here is encyclopedia, not a workplace assessment. Name the agent: dust, isocyanate, fibre, fume, moisture, fire.
Fire class inherently FR textile is reaction language unless an assembly test is cited.
Hazards
In service
Corrosion, moisture, UV or creep silently retire sections.
Fire products
Smoke, drip, fibres or toxicants depend on chemistry.
Cut / puncture
Handling injuries are more common than brochure failures.
Mis-specification
The wrong grade is the most expensive hazard.
Fire class
Reaction
inherently FR textile
Resistance
Assemblies (EI, R, Type X) are not implied by the material letter.
Test families
EN 13501, ASTM E84, ISO 5660, KS F 2271 — they do not equal each other.
People vs structure
Clothing FR and steel R-ratings are different professions.
Environment
Carbon / energy
Primary production is energy-heavy; ask for a route, not a slogan.
Toxics / fibres
Additives, dusts and processing aids (not always the polymer backbone) drive regulation.
Water
Process water, leachate or moisture swelling.
End of life
Sortability beats theoretical recyclability.
Handling
Store dry and labelled
Grade mix-ups scrap lots.
PPE for the actual agent
Fibres, isocyanates, UV, sharp edges — not a generic “chemicals” pictogram.
Do not improvise fire class
Coatings and cavities change the letter.
Follow the WPS / DFT / compression
Installation is in the specification.
Codes move. Recheck KS, JIS, EN, NFPA and IBC editions for the job’s jurisdiction.
Keep exploring
More in Fire performance
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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