2017-04-15 Sat

Many countries like Australia, Brunei, Canada, the United Kingdom, Vietnam etc. have started issuing plastic bank notes since they are more durable, have better security features, and are cost-effective.

A series of banknotes from Haiti and a note from Costa Rica, both printed on Tyvek is catching the eye of collectors. DuPont’s Tyvek is composed of flash-spun polyethene fibre.

Using tear-resistant, lightweight, and durable Tyvek to print notes was the first semi-successful attempt at durable “plastic” banknotes. It is used in envelopes from both the United States Postal Service and FedEx. It is also widely used in the clothing industry and construction. The material has been in production since the 1960s.

The experiment failed because of the hot and humid climate of Haiti causing the ink to smear. Over a period of time, they became difficult to recognise and hence were withdrawn.

Six denominations were printed on Tyvek for Haiti. Dated 1979, they entered circulation around 1982–1983. The designs were similar to paper issues from the time period, with some minor differences.