ASTM F1407-12(2017)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F1407 − 12 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Test Method for
Resistance of Chemical Protective Clothing Materials to
Liquid Permeation—Permeation Cup Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1407; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
Workers involved in the production, use, and transportation of chemicals can be exposed to
numerous compounds capable of causing harm upon contact with the human body. The deleterious
effects of these chemicals can range from acute trauma, such as dermatitis or burns, to chronic
degenerative disease, such as cancer or pulmonary fibrosis. Since engineering controls may not
eliminate all possible exposures, attention is often given to reducing the potential for direct skin
contact through the use of protective clothing that resists degradation, penetration, and permeation.
This test method provides a simple, gravimetric means for measuring the resistance of clothing
materialstopermeationbyliquidchemicals.Permeationtestingbyamoresophisticatedprocedureand
penetrationtestingareaddressedbyseparatemethods:TestMethodsF739andF903,respectively.Test
Methods for measuring the effects of chemicals on the physical properties of rubbers, plastics, and
coated fabrics may be found in Test Method D471, Practices D543, and Test Methods D751,
respectively. Guide F1001 designates 21 chemicals for use with these tests.
1. Scope bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
tionary statements are given in Section 7.
1.1 This test method measures the barrier effectiveness of a
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
specimen of protective clothing upon continuous contact with
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
a liquid.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.1.1 Procedure A—Forusewhenavalueforthecumulative
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
amount of chemical permeated in1his desired.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.1.2 Procedure B—For use when breakthrough detection
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
time and permeation rate values are desired.
1.2 Although not addressed herein, the effect of the test
2. Referenced Documents
chemical on the clothing material can be determined by 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
comparing the weight or other physical properties of the
D471 Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liquids
specimen before and after the permeation test.
D543 Practices for Evaluating the Resistance of Plastics to
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
Chemical Reagents
standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical D751 Test Methods for Coated Fabrics
conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for informa-
E105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials
tion only and are not considered standard.
F739 Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases
throughProtectiveClothingMaterialsunderConditionsof
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Continuous Contact
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
F903 Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
F1001 Guide for Selection of Chemicals to Evaluate Protec-
tive Clothing Materials
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F23 on Personal
Protective Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F23.30 on Chemicals. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved June 1, 2017. Published June 2017. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1992. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as F1407 – 12. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F1407-12R17. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1407 − 12 (2017)
2.2 Federal Standard: 4. Summary of Test Method
No. 191, Method 5030.2 Measurement of the Thickness of
4.1 The resistance of a protective clothing material to
Materials
permeation by a test chemical is assessed by measuring the
cumulative permeation, breakthrough detection time, and per-
3. Terminology
meation rate through replicate specimens of the material.
3.1 Definitions:
4.2 Aclothing material specimen is secured over the mouth
3.1.1 breakthrough detection time, n—theelapsedtimemea-
of a shallow cup that holds the test chemical. The normally
sured from the initial exposure to the test chemical to the
outside surface of the material faces the chemical; the other
sampling time that immediately precedes the sampling time at
side is open to the atmosphere. See Fig. 1.
which the test chemical is first detected.
4.3 The cup assembly is weighed, inverted, and reweighed
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Inthismethod,thesamplingtimeisthe
at predetermined time intervals to determine the amount of
time of weighing.
chemical that permeates the material and subsequently evapo-
3.1.2 cumulative permeation, n—the total mass of chemical
rates to the atmosphere.
that permeates a specific area of the protective clothing
4.4 Based on the amount of chemical lost from the cup
material during a specified time from when the material is first
during the exposure period, the breakthrough detection time,
contacted by the test chemical.
permeation rate, and cumulative mass of chemical permeating
3.1.3 degradation, n—a deleterious change in one or more
the clothing material are calculated.
properties of a material.
4.5 Detection of permeation requires sufficient volatility of
3.1.4 penetration, n—for chemical protective clothing, the
thetestchemical,andtheappropriatecombinationofanalytical
movement of substances through voids in protective clothing
balance and weighing interval.
materials or item on a non-molecular level.
4.5.1 See Section 10 for volatility test.
3.1.4.1 Discussion—Voids include gaps, pores, holes, and
4.5.2 The likelihood of detecting chemical permeation in-
imperfections in closures, seams, interfaces, and protective
creasesas(1)thesensitivityofthebalanceisincreased,and(2)
clothing materials. Penetration does not require a change of
the time between weighings and the length of the test are
state; solid chemicals move through voids in the material as
increased.
solids, liquids as liquids, and gases as gases. Penetration is a
distinctly different mechanism from permeation.
4.6 In extreme cases the chemical could so severely degrade
the clothing material that the chemical will drip or otherwise
3.1.5 permeation, n—for chemical protective clothing, the
flow from the inverted cup.
movement of chemicals as molecules through protective cloth-
ing materials items by the processes of: (1) absorption of the
5. Significance and Use
chemical into the contact surface of the material, (2) diffusion
5.1 This test method establishes a standard procedure for
of the absorbed molecules throughout the material, and (3)
rapidly (in1hor less) determining the chemical resistance of
desorption of the chemical from the opposite surface of the
specimens of protective clothing materials. This test method
material.
can be used to rank materials as to their suitability for use with
3.1.5.1 Discussion—Permeation is a distinctly different
liquids of known or unknown composition.
mechanism from penetration.
5.2 The breakthrough detection time, permeation rate, or
3.1.6 protective clothing, n—item of clothing that is specifi-
cumulative permeation can be used to identify protective
cally designed and constructed for the intended purpose of
clothing materials that are more likely to limit potential
isolating all or part of the body from a potential hazard; or,
exposures to chemicals. Longer breakthrough detection times
isolating the external environment from contamination by the
andlowercumulativeamountspermeatedandpermeationrates
wearer of the clothing.
arecharacteristicsofmaterialsthatarebetterbarrierstothetest
3.1.7 steady-state permeation rate, n—a constant rate of
chemical.
permeation that occurs after breakthrough when all forces
affecting permeation have reached equilibrium.
3.1.8 test chemical, n—the solid, liquid, gas, or mixture
thereof used to evaluate the performance of a protective
clothing material.
3.1.8.1 Discussion—In this test method, the test chemical is
a liquid and can be either one component (that is, a neat liquid)
or have several components (that is, a mixture).
3.1.9 time interval, n—the time between weighings of the
permeation cup.
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4,
NOTE 1—Dimensions in centimetres.
Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5098, http://
dodssp.daps.dla.mil. FIG. 1 ASTM Permeation Cup
F1407 − 12 (2017)
5.3 In general this test method is less sensitive than Test 7. Safety Precautions
Method F739 coupled with sensitive analytical procedures. In
7.1 Before carrying out this test method, safety precautions
caseswherethechemicalofconcernishighlytoxicandcontact
recommended for handling any potentially hazardous chemical
of even a very small amount with the skin may be detrimental
should be identified and reviewed to provide full protection to
to health, the permeation cup method is not recommended. Use
all personnel.
Test Method F739.
7.1.1 For carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and other
toxic (poisonous) chemicals, the work area should be isolated,
5.4 Upon permeating the clothing material, the chemical
well ventilated, and meticulously clean. Involved personnel
must evaporate in order for a weight loss to occur and
should be outfitted with appropriate protective clothing and
permeation to be detected. Consequently, the test method may
equipment.
not be applicable for chemicals having low volatility (that is,
7.1.2 For corrosive or otherwise hazardous chemicals, in-
vapor pressure). The vapor pressure below which this test
volved personnel should, at a minimum, be outfitted with
method is not applicable has not been determined.
protective clothing and equipment.
5.4.1 A procedure for assessing volatility is described in
7.2 Provisions should be made for handling spills of the test
Section 10.
chemical or splashes to the eyes or skin.
5.5 The results of this test method are highly dependent on
7.3 Appropriate procedures for the disposal of chemicals
the test temperature. If the objective is to compare different
should be followed.
clothing materials, all tests shall be conducted at the same
7.4 The test should be performed in a laboratory fume hood
temperature (63 °C).
or outdoors.
NOTE 1—In order to obtain stable readings from the analytical balance,
6. Apparatus
it may be necessary to shield the balance or at least its pan from air
currents.
6.1 Thickness Gauge, suitable for measuring thickness to
the nearest 0.02 mm (0.001 in.), as specified in Fed. Std. No.
8. Test Specimen
191, Method 5030.2, shall be used to determine the thickness
8.1 A protective clothing material specimen may consist of
of each material specimen tested.
either a single layer or a composite of multiple layers that is
6.2 Analytical Balance,readableandreproducibletoatleast
representative of an actual protective clothing construction
61 mg, is required for measuring the weight loss of the
with all layers arranged in proper order. In each test, the
permeation cup. The capacity of the balance should be at least
specimen’s normally outer surface shall contact the test chemi-
50 g more than the weight of an empty permeation cup.
cal.
8.1.1 If, in a proposed design of an article of protective
6.3 Permeation Cup, shown in Fig. 1, is constructed of
clothing, different materials or thicknesses of materials are
metal(aluminumisrecommended)andiscomposedofthecup,
specified at different locations, specimens from each location
O-ring (PTFE is recommended), retaining ring (aluminum is
shall be tested.
recommended), and six fasteners (stainless steel is recom-
8.1.2 If, in a proposed design of an article of protective
mended) for securing the retaining ring to the cup.The circular
clothing, seams are specified, additional specimens containing
opening in the retaining ring has a diameter of 7.8 6 0.05 cm,
such seams shall be tested. Care must be taken to ensure that
corresponding to an area of 47.8 cm .
the permeation cup can be properly sealed when specimens of
6.3.1 Materials other than aluminum may be used in the nonuniform thickness are tested.
construction of the permeation cup. Such materials may be
8.2 Each material specimen shall have a diameter at least
desirable for tests involving chemicals which are incompatible
5 mm greater than the outside diameter of the O-ring or sealing
with aluminum (for example, acids).
mechanism.
6.3.2 A chemically resistant coating may be applied to the
8.3 A minimum of three specimens shall be tested for each
permeation cup to increase its range of chemical compatibility.
material, composite, area (in the case of a heterogeneous
Polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)hasbeenusedsuccessfullyasa
design), or other condition. Random specimens may be gener-
coating.
ated as described in Practice E105
6.3.3 In place of the O-ring, either the cup or the retaining
9. Conditioning
ring may be machined such that a seal is achieved when the
retaining ring is fastened to the cup.
9.1 No conditioning of the test specimen is required.
6.3.4 The volume available for the test liquid is approxi-
10. Volatility Test
mately 80 mL, although this amount of chemical is not
required nor recommended for performing the test.
10.1 Weight loss from the cup is the result of chemical
diffusion to and evaporation from the surface of the clothing
6.4 Torquing Device, to seal the r
...