Prediction of Permeation Resistance of Protective Gloves, etc. from Solubility Parameters: MAXIPARDIF

From users' and the safety officers' point of view, it is important among the products available in the market to find the protective glove, suit or accessory with the optimal permeation characteristics - breakthrough time and permeation rate. A reliable and efficient predictive method would be valuable. This paper is concerned with a method of prediction. The three dimensional solubility parameter was developed to make the formulation af paints and varnishes more easy (Hansen 1967). Later it was transferred (Henriksen 1982) to the field of diffusion and, particularly, permeation in continuous layers of polymers as used in chemical protective clothing. Application of a relatively simple mathematical equation made permeability data correlate with solubility parameters of permeants and polymer materials. Permeation could actually be predicted and a concept on selection emerged (MAXIPARDIF). A starting point was the authoritative conclusion (Coletta et al., 1978), that permeation in protective clothing could not be predicted. As a spin off, the predictive concept indicated that new types of polymers sometimes should be incorporated to reach a reasonable (long) breakthrough time and (low) permation rate (Henriksen 1982, 91, 92, 93, Henriksen et al., 1986,). Concrete products were designed and the new materials are today applied by several companies. Many researchers were inspired. In this presentation experience with practical prediction from the concept developed (MAXIPARDIF) is summarized and a new method to estimate of the 3D parameters for protective garment polymers is suggested. Some 3D parameters calculated this way are presented.