• MSNBC/AP, Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:45 AM

DuPont is investing $500 million to increase its production of Kevlar--which is used in both body and vehicle armor--by as much as 25% by 2010. In addition to its protective uses, "global megatrends" are driving demand for Kevlar, according to DuPont vice president Thomas Powell.

The material is also used to make energy-efficient materials and for infrastructure projects in developing economies. Powell says high energy prices have increased the demand for lightweight strength fibers in the aerospace, oil and gas, and automotive industries. He also says the federal government made no specific requests for increased production. Less than half of the company's Kevlar production goes into personal protection, according to DuPont spokeswoman Stephanie Jacobson.

Kevlar was originally developed for use in tires. Five times stronger than steel on a weight basis, it can be used to build lighter airplanes and cars. Infrastructure applications range from protecting fiber-optic cables to strengthening aging bridges by wrapping them in Kevlar.

Read the whole story at MSNBC/AP »