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Liquid chemical penetration is a physical process whereby a liquid penetrates a fabric by passing through pores or holes in the fabric.
The European standard EN 368 (referred to as the "gutter test") measures liquid penetration through a fabric and liquid repellency by a fabric.
| Penetration data for Tyvek® 1422A - EN 368> |
| Chemical |
Penetration index (%) |
Repellency index (%) |
| Acetic acid (30%) |
0.0* |
95.4 |
| Acetic acid (50%) |
0.0* |
95.4 |
| Ammonium hydroxide (30% NH3 in water) |
0.0* |
91.5 |
| Cobalt sulphate saturated solution |
0.0* |
94.9 |
| Ethylene glycol |
0.0* |
98.0 |
| Formic acid (30%) |
0.0* |
95.4 |
| Formic acid (50%) |
0.0* |
93.4 |
| Glycerol |
0.0* |
94.9 |
| Hydrochloric acid (30%) |
0.0* |
96.7 |
| Hydrochloric acid (50%) |
0.0* |
95.4 |
| Hydrogen peroxide (30%) |
0.0* |
95.5 |
| Isopropanol |
0.5* |
90.2 |
| Mercuric chloride saturated salt solution |
0.0* |
95.0 |
| n-Heptane |
2.6* |
74.3 |
| Nitric acid (30%) |
0.0* |
96.2 |
| Nitric acid (50%) |
0.0* |
96.0 |
| Olive oil |
0.0* |
80.0 |
| Phosphoric acid (30%) |
0.0* |
97.7 |
| Phosphoric acid (50%) |
0.0* |
97.6 |
| Potassium chromate saturated solution |
0.0* |
96.0 |
| Potassium hydroxide (40%) |
0.0* |
97.8 |
| Sodium acetate saturated salt solution |
0.0* |
95.5 |
| Sodium benzoate saturated salt solution |
0.0* |
93.9 |
| Sodium cyanide (45%) |
0.0* |
94.3 |
| Sodium hydroxide (10%) |
0.0* |
93.6 |
| Sodium hydroxide (30%) |
0.0* |
99.0 |
| Sodium hypochlorite solution (12% Chlorine) |
0.0* |
95.5 |
| Sulphuric acid (30%) |
0.0* |
96.8 |
| Water / surfactant (surface tension 0.03 N/m) |
0.0* |
99.5 |
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0* = Below detection limit (which is estimated at 0.2%)
Caution must be applied when interpreting penetration results according to EN 368 that simulates exposure to small amounts of chemicals (10 ml) for 1 minute duration only. For example, Tyvek® (style 1422A) easily absorbs n-Heptane and Isopropanol and when exposed to larger quantities for longer than one minute, considerable percentages of these chemicals would pass through Tyvek® (style 1422A). To determine whether a fabric with a low penetration index is really a barrier to a specific liquid chemical, please refer to the Chemical Permeation Data.
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