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1 7thEDITIONC hemical Resistance GuidePermeation & Degradation DataIntroduction to the 7th EditionWhen reviewing the following recommendations,remember that tests are conducted under laboratoryconditions, and that actual workplace conditions usuallydictate a combinationof performance product s resistance to cuts, punctures, and abrasionmust also be taken into account as a critical usage glove with excellent permeation resistance may notbe adequate if it tears or punctures easily. Always factorin the physical performance requirements of the job orapplication when selecting a chemical-resistant s ASTM standard permeation anddegradation tests are presented on the following pages asan aid in determining the general suitability of variousproducts for use with specific chemicals.

2 Because theconditions of ultimate use are beyond our control, andbecause we cannot run permeation tests in all possiblework environments and across all combinations ofchemicals and solutions, these recommendations areadvisory only. THE SUITABILITY OF THE PRODUCTFOR A SPECIFIC JOB MUST BE DETERMINED BY TESTING BY THE of Key TermsPermeationis a process by which a chemical canpass through a protective film without going throughpinholes, pores, or other visible openings. Individualmolecules of the chemical enter the film, and squirm through by passing between the molecules of the glovecompound or film. In many cases the permeatedmaterial may appear unchanged to the human permeation can be described in simpleterms by comparing it to what happens to the air in aballoon after several hours.

3 Although there are no holes or defects, and the balloon is tightly sealed, theair gradually passes through (permeates) its walls andescapes. This simple example uses gas permeation , butthe principle is the same with liquids or data are presented in two values:Breakthroughtime and times (min.)are the times observed from the start of the test to firstdetection of the chemical on the other side of the sample(for test methodology, see the outside back cover of thisguide). These times represent how long a glove can beexpected to provide effective permeation resistancewhen totally immersed in the test rates are the highest flow ratesrecordedfor the permeating chemicals through the glove samplesduring a six-hour or eight-hour test.

4 These qualitativeratings are comparisons of permeation rates to each a reduction in one or morephysical properties of a glove material due to contactwith a chemical. Certain glove materials may becomehard, stiff, or brittle, or they may grow softer, weaker,and swell to several times their original size. If achemical has a significant impact on the physicalproperties of a glove material, its permeation resistanceis quickly impaired. For this reason, glove/chemicalcombinations rated Poor or Not Recommended indegradation testing were not tested for permeationresistance. Please note, however, that permeation anddegradation do not always overall Degradation Ratingfor each chemicalis explained in How To Read The Charts.

5 permeation /Degradation Resistance guide for AnsellChemical Resistant GlovesHow to Read the ChartsThree categories of data are representedfor each ansell product and correspondingchemical: 1) overall degradation resistancerating; 2) permeation breakthrough time, and3) permeation for Color-CodingA glove-chemical combination receivesGREENif either set of the followingconditions is met: The degradation rating is Excellent or Good The permeation breakthrough time is 30 minutes or longer The permeation rate is Excellent,Very Good, or The permeation rate is not specified The permeation breakthrough time is240 minutes or longer The degradation rating is Excellent,Very Good, or GoodA glove-chemical combination receivesREDif.

6 The degradation rating is Pooror Not Recommended, regardless of thepermeation other glove-chemical combinationsreceive other words, anyglove-chemical combination not meetingeither set of conditions required forGreen, and not having a Red degradationrating of either Poor or Not Recommended,receives a Stated,Drops/hrThrough a Glove(eyedropper-size drops)E Excellent; permeation rate of less than g/cm2 to 1/2 dropVG Very Good; permeation rate of less than 9 g/cm2 to 5 dropsG Good; permeation rate of less than 90 g/cm2 to 50 dropsF Fair; permeation rate of less than 900 g/cm2 to 500 dropsP Poor; permeation rate of less than 9000 g/cm2 to 5000 dropsNR Not Recommended; permeation rate greater than 9000 g/cm2 drops upNote:The current revision to the ASTM standard permeation test calls for permeation to be reported in micrograms of chemical permeated per square centimeter of material-exposed per minute of exposure, g/cm2/min.

7 Key to permeation Rate> Greater than (time) < Less than (time)Key to permeation BreakthroughE Excellent; fluid has very little degrading Good; fluid has minor degrading Fair; fluid has moderate degrading Poor; fluid has pronounced degrading Fluid was not tested against this to Degradation RatingsWhy is a product with a shorter breakthrough time sometimes given a better rating than one with a longer breakthrough time?NOTE:Any test samples rated P (poor) or NR (notrecommended) in degradationtesting were not tested forpermeation resistance. A dash( ) appears in those 37-145 Sol-Vex 37-165(11 mm)(22 mm)Neoprene Unsupported29-86529-865(18 mm)(18 mm)Polyvinyl Alcohol SupportedPVATMPVATMP olyvinyl Chloride SupportedSnorkel Monkey GripTMNatural Rubber LatexCanners 392 Canners 392(19 mm)(19 mm)Neoprene/Latex BlendChemi-Pro 224 Chemi-Pro 224(27 mm)(27 mm)Laminated LCPTMFilmBarrier 2-100 Barrier 2-100( mm)( mm)Single palm thickness is listed in both mil and metric millimeter (mm) for UnsupportedGloves.

8 Supported Gloves are specified by glove weight, not Gloves Used for TestingOne glove has a breakthrough time of just 4 minutes. Itis rated very good, while another with a breakthrough timeof 30 minutes is rated only fair. Why? The reason is simple:in some cases the rateis more significant than the connecting two hoses of the same length butdifferent diameters to a faucet using a Y connector. Whenyou turn on the water, what happens? Water goes throughthe smaller hose first because there is less space inside thatneeds to be filled. But when the water finally gets throughthe larger hose it really gushes out. In only a few minutes,the larger hose will discharge much more water than thesmaller one, even though the smaller one started situation is similar with gloves.

9 A combination of ashort breakthrough time and a low permeation rate mayexpose a glove wearer to less chemical than a combinationof a longer breakthrough time and a much higherbreakthrough rate, if the glove is worn long NOTE: The chemicals in this guide highlighted in BLUE are experimental carcinogens, according to the ninth EDITION of Sax Dangerous Properties of Industrial highlighted in GRAY are listed as suspected carcinogens, experimental carcinogens at extremely high dosages, and other materials which pose a lesser risk of Resistance guide for ansell GlovesThe first square in each column foreach glove type is color coded.

10 Thisis an easy-to-read indication of howwe rate this type of glove in relationto its applicability for each chemicallisted. The color represents anoverall rating for both degradationand permeation . The letter in eachsquare is for Degradation alone ..GREEN: The glove is verywell suited for applicationwith that : The glove is suit-able for that application undercareful control of its : Avoid use of theglove with this : All numeric designations within the product classifications are denoted in minutes. A degradation test against this chemical was not run. However, since its breakthrough time is greater than 480 minutes, the Degradation Rating is expected to be Goodto Excellent.