For Protective Gloves that work with chemicals, chemical corrosion resistance testing is a key step to ensure their effectiveness. The following are common test methods:
1. Immersion test
This is one of the most basic test methods. The Protective Gloves sample is completely immersed in a specific chemical reagent, which is selected according to the chemical that the gloves are expected to protect, such as strong acids (such as sulfuric acid), strong bases (such as sodium hydroxide) or organic solvents (such as toluene). The immersion time will vary according to different standards and actual usage, generally ranging from a few hours to a few days.
During the immersion process, observe the appearance changes of the gloves, such as whether the color changes, whether there is swelling, hardening or softening. Swelling may indicate that the chemical has penetrated into the glove material and changed its structure; hardening or softening may affect the physical properties of the gloves, such as flexibility and puncture resistance. At the same time, the gloves will also be checked for cracks, breaks or other physical damage.
2. Permeation test
The penetration test can more accurately assess the degree to which chemicals penetrate the glove material. Usually, a permeation model simulating human skin is adopted, where the glove material is sandwiched between two compartments, with chemical reagents placed on one side and receiving media (such as buffer solution) on the other side. The anti-permeation performance of the gloves is judged by analyzing whether the chemical substances appear in the receiving medium.
Advanced testing equipment can monitor the rate and amount of permeation in real time. For example, a specific sensor is used to detect the concentration change of the chemical substance to determine the time when the permeation starts and the speed of permeation. This is crucial for evaluating the safety of Protective Gloves when exposed to chemicals for a long time.
3. Chemical compatibility charts and database references
In addition to experimental tests, chemical compatibility charts and databases can also be referenced. These resources list the compatibility of different glove materials with various chemicals based on a large amount of experimental data and practical application experience. However, it should be noted that the chemicals in the actual working environment may be a mixture of multiple components, or the gloves may be affected by physical factors (such as friction, stretching) at the same time, so these charts and databases can only be used as preliminary references.
Through the above comprehensive test methods, the chemical corrosion resistance of Protective Gloves in contact with chemical substances can be evaluated more comprehensively, thereby providing a reliable basis for selecting suitable Protective Gloves.
