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Comparing and Selecting Chemical Protective Garments

Nov 18, 2020

Not every manufacturer gives you the full picture.

Not all garment manufacturers publish permeation data. For example, they provide no information about how the garment performs in permeation tests.

DuPont, on the other hand, publishes permeation data for our chemical resistant/secondary flame-resistant garment fabric, Tychem® 2000 SFR.

Bottom line?
If chemical protection is your need, permeation is your test. Make sure you know the type of test that was conducted on your garments.


Comparisons can be confusing.


When you're considering how long garments can be worn before chemical breakthrough, it's important to understand the type of permeation testing that has been performed on them.

ASTM F739 specifies that results should be recorded at a normalized breakthrough time (NBT) of 0.1 µg/cm2/min. DuPont tests all Tychem® fabrics using this method. ASTM F739 is the standard test used in North America. Another commonly used permeation test uses an NBT of 1.0 µg/cm2/min., a rate used in Europe per EN ISO 6529. The ASTM F739 method, the method DuPont sites, is the more stringent and sensitive test for chemical permeation, because it defines breakthrough at a 10x lower threshold.

Bottom line?
When deciding on protective garments, make sure you're comparing fabrics that are tested at the same permeation rate limits. Seek data for the specific chemicals you work with.


Not everything is what it "seams"

Seams make a big difference in the overall protection a garment provides.

Some competitors may compare performance of a taped or bound seam garment to that of a serged seam garment.

That's not an honest, "apples-to-apples" comparison. Performance comparisons should always be made between garments with similar seam constructions. DuPont offers garments with different types of seams: serged, bound, and taped. When deciding which garment to purchase, make sure you compare garments with the same type of seams, and select a seam type that meets your hazard needs.

Focus on the fabric.

When you're reviewing competitors' claims of how their fabrics perform versus Tyvek®, pay attention to the fabric type.For example, the fabrics Lakeland and Kimberly-Clark compare to Tyvek® typically are made with either microporous film (MPF) or spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) fabric—neither of which has the unique properties of Tyvek®.

Engineered using proprietary, flashspun polyethylene technology, garments made with Tyvek® fabric provide many advantages versus the competition, including superior barrier protection after abrasion, durability and comfort.

To read more visit DUPONT


For our full range of Dupont Tychem products visit CES


To find out more about the brands we supply visit our brand page

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