PERMEA-TEC Pads

Toxic chemicals such as pesticides, aromatic amines, and isocyanates can permeate gloves and protective clothing. Wide variations in the chemical resistance of gloves and protective clothing compositions make protective equipment selection difficult – especially if using mixtures of chemicals in the workplace. Gloves are flexed, stretched, pressured and abraded in use which can cause premature chemical breakthrough and alter reliance on ASTM laboratory breakthrough data. PERMEA-TEC pads should be used for initial evaluation of a new glove. They are worn under gloves during actual field use and show the point at which breakthrough occurs. This information enables the safety professional to select a glove that will perform optimally in terms of protection, employee acceptance, and cost effectiveness. PERMEA-TEC pads are sensitive to 3 to 5 µg for aromatic amines and isocyanates. Solvent PERMEA-TEC pads also contain a charcoal pad for GC analysis.

The PERMEA-TEC pads should be placed on thumb, middle finger and palm with the pad side facing out before donning the gloves. These locations represent areas where the highest degree of contact and abrasion occur. The pads should be checked hourly for breakthrough.