TEST METHODS
<Permeation Test>
BDT : BREAKTHROUGH DETECTION TIME
TTL : TOTAL IMMERSION CHEMICAL PERMEATION BREAKTHROUGH TIME
INT : INTERMITTENT CONTACT CHEMICAL PERMEATION BREAKTHROUGH TIME
Chemical permeation testing performance according to American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) F739 total immersion and ASTM F1383 intermittent contact methods.
The ASTM F739 and the EN 16523-1 (test method for chemical permeation in EN374: 2016 standard) are both total immersion tests that go for a maximum of 8 hours (or 480min). One difference between them is the amount of chemical that determines a breakthrough. ASTM F739 detection level is 0.1 micrograms/cm2 of glove exposure/minute, while EN 16523-1 detection level is 1.0 micrograms/cm2 of glove exposure/minute. The ASTM test would be considered a more stringent test due to the lower detection level.
The ASTM F1383 is an intermittent test. The ASTM F1383 is on minute of immersion followed by 9 minutes of no immersion, and then repeated up to a maximum of 4 hours (or 240 minutes). This test was designed for showing reasonable use of gloves with highly volatile chemicals where limited contact was involved and not total immersion.
| Breakthrough time |
| >480minutes |
| >240minutes |
| >120minutes |
| >60minutes |
| >30minutes |
| >10minutes |
| 6 to 10 minutes |
| 1 to 5 minutes |
| <1 minute |
| NR |
| NT |
Degradation Rating:
E= EXCELLENT, G= GOOD, F= FAIR, P= POOR, NR= NOT RECOMMENDED, NT= NOT TESTED
Degradation is a physical change in a glove material that occurs after exposure to chemicals. The effects of degradation may include (but not limited to) swelling, wrinkling, deterioration, discoloration or delamination. SHOWA gloves were tested for degradation using a protocol considered by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F23 Protective Clothing Committee. The percent weight change was measured gravimetrically after 5, 30, 60 and 240 minutes. The ratings were assigned as follows: Percent weight change: 0-10% = Excellent, 11-20% = Good, 21-30% = Fair, 31-50% = Poor, >50 = NR/Not Recommended
