Tyvek Sleeves offers the best features of paper, film and fabric. Tyvek® is extremely strong and some of its characteristics include moisture resistance and a silky texture that is kind to your CD and DVDs. Also Tyvek sleeves produce very little lint because the Spunbonded Olefin is made of continuous fibers. Tyvek sleeves also feature anti-static properties that are applied at time of manufacture. Tyvek® (Olefin) is chemically inert so it's a great solution for archiving your recordable CDs and DVDs. Additionally Tyvek sleeves have a PH=7 so they are chemically neutral (nether acidic or base). Tyvek sleeves do not promote mold or mildew. Tyvek sleeves are 100% recyclable and DuPont™ manages a nationwide recycling program that collects Tyvek and recycles it. Tyvek is a registered trademark of DuPont™ and so there is only one "Tyvek" so it is not a generic term for spun plastic. Tyvek was invented back in 1955 by accident at a DuPont lab. It was not until 1967 that a commercial product was released. Tyvek has been widely used since that time and has a wide range of uses beyond Tyvek sleeves for recordable CDs and DVDs.
Tyvek sleeves come in many styles. Technically any Tyvek sleeve with a flap is considered a Tyvek envelope although that term is seldom used unless it's actually a mailer. Tyvek sleeves come as a standard sleeve with a size of 4 15/16x 5" and a Tyvek sleeve with window is sized 5"x 4 7/8th" Tyvek sleeves with flap (or "Tyvek Envelope") are offered with window or without. Tyvek sleeve envelopes with flap come with no adhesive or with a resealable latex type seal or a peel and seal flap. Tyvek sleeves come in other colors besides white. Tyvek sleeves standard colors include Black, Blue, Violet, Red, Green, Yellow and Orange.
A new angle on the Tyvek CD sleeve is the Tyvek DVD sleeve. Tyvek DVD provides the ultimate protection for DVDs. Like Tyvek it is lightweight, tough, non-abrasive and provides anti-static protection. However its composition allows it to outperform other materials and will not generate debris that can damage a recordable DVD surface. To be sure you are getting the best protection for your recordable DVDs. Look for the Tyvek DVD logo on the package. Tyvek DVD sleeves are slightly thicker then a standard Tyvek sleeve. Independent tests (AudioDev AB of Malmo, Sweden) showed conclusively that Tyvek DVD Packaging provides protection equal to hard cases and better than other flexible packaging systems.
Tyvek CD sleeves and Tyvek DVD sleeves can be purchased with adhesive on the back of the Tyvek sleeve so the mountables allow CDs to be securely mounted to catalogs, books and brochures.
Tyvek sleeves cost more then paper CD sleeves. Of course far more engineering, research and development goes into making Tyvek products then paper. Paper is typically acidic and does not provide any static protection. Paper sleeves tend to capture all the lint and grit unlike Tyvek sleeves. You can certainly tell the difference when holding the two types of CD sleeves side by side.
