Instructions
Solvent
PERMEA-TEC餂? Pads
Glove and Protective Clothing Breakthrough Indicators
Selection of PPE, especially gloves, is a complex process of weighing many variables to
achieve optimal protection, cost effectiveness, and encourage productivity.
Due to wide variations in solvent resistance of glove and protective clothing compositions,
the best choice for protection becomes even more difficult when different solvents or
mixtures of solvents are present in the workplace. Although useful in the selection process,
permeation data exists for only a limited number of chemicals; data on solvent mixtures is
almost non-existent.
The PERMEA-TEC餂? detection systems were developed to provide a method for field
validation of chemical protective clothing. Field validation allows the industrial hygienist to
give first consideration to safety when choosing a glove or personal protective clothing.
Sample Solvent PERMEA-TEC餂? Pad
The Solvent PERMEA-TEC餂? is a screening tool for glove evaluation under actual use
conditions. CLI鈥檚 micro-encapsulation detection indictor (patent pending) provides a color
change (white to gray) indicating permeation for many common polar organic solvents. The
activated charcoal pad is a highly efficient absorption medium to trap the permeating solvents
for laboratory identification. Based on the identification of the permeating solvent(s), a more
effective glove material can be chosen.
Simply attach PERMEA-TEC餂? pads to workers鈥? hands before gloving. It is recommended that
the pads be placed on the thumb, middle finger and palm as these locations represent the
areas of greatest contact and possible abrasion that could enhance chemical penetration.
Instructions for Use
鈥? Glove Selection and Evaluation
To help determine the period of 鈥渟afe use鈥? for a glove, 鈥淧ERMEA-TEC餂? pads are
worn under gloves on both hands. As a safety precaution, it is recommended that
during the initial evaluation of a new glove, workers should be doubled gloved. Place
鈥淧ERMEA-TEC餂?" pads on the outside of the glove currently in use. Then wear the
glove to be evaluated over the first. After one hour remove one outside glove and
inspect the PERMEA-TEC餂? for indication of chemical breakthrough. If no
breakthrough occurred, continue working for another hour and then check the
鈥淧ERMEA-TECs餂? again. These intervals can be increased or decreased until the
effective 鈥渟afe use鈥? period is determined.
鈥? Normal Use
After a 鈥渟afe use鈥? time period for a glove has been determined, design a change-out
schedule for gloves and PERMEA-TECs餂? that assures and documents protection
from chemical exposure.
鈥? Laboratory Analysis
The micro-encapsulated indicator turns from white to gray with solvent exposure.
The sensitivity of the reaction varies with the solvent, but is normally in the range of
.5 鈥? 5 mg.
When using a solvent mixture, thermal desorption or solvent desorption can be used
to identify the permeating solvent. Remove the charcoal pad from the PERMEA-
TEC餂?; place it in an airtight vial for shipment to the laboratory and analysis via GC.
For highly toxic solvents or solvents with a poor indicator response, such as
benzene or other non-polar solvents, the charcoal pad should be relied on as the
primary detection method.
Other PERMEA-TEC餂? indicators are available for:
Aromatic Amines: MDA, aniline, o-toluidine, etc.
Aromatic Isocyanates: TDI, MDI, etc.
Aliphatic Isocyanates: HDI, HMDI, etc.
Hydrazines: N2H4, MMH, and UDMH
Acid/Base: HCL, HF, H2SO4, NH3, and aliphatic amines
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