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Wilson College of Textiles 
Textile Protection And Comfort Center

Chemical Protection

Analyze materials, components and systems following exposure to chemical, liquid or vapor challenge

Chemical Protection Laboratory

The Chemical Protection Laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to analyze materials and ensemble systems for penetration, permeation, and infiltration resistance of potentially toxic chemical liquids and gases. Innovative equipment is used to study protection properties from fabric swatch to garment ensembles with both manikin and human subject protocols. The following capabilities are highlighted.

Fabric Level Assessment

Liquid Chemical Penetration – determination of material resistance to the challenge liquid with that liquid in continuous contact with the specified surface of the specimen.

  • ASTM F 903 Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Liquids

Chemical Permeation – measures the permeation of liquids and gases through protective clothing materials under the condition of continuous contact.

  • ASTM F 739 Standard Test Method for Permeation of Liquids and Gases through Protective Clothing Materials under Conditions of Continuous Contact

Garment Level Evaluation

Evaluation Using the Man-In-Simulant Test – test that estimates entry of chemical agent vapor simulant through a protective ensemble while being worn by human subjects.

  • ASTM F 2588 – Standard Test Method for Man-In-Simulant Test (MIST) for Protective Ensembles
  • Test Operations Procedure (TOP) 10-2-022, Chemical Vapor and Aerosol System-Level Testing of Chemical / Biological Protective Suits
  • TPACC research activities are ongoing toward enhancing current instrumented manikin technologies; developing and implementing concepts for establishing a MIST manikin system.