Penetration
Penetration is the passage of a substance through visible or macroscopic defects in the glove material – holes, tears, faulty seams, or pores. It occurs at a non-molecular level.
The penetration test per EN ISO 374-2 is a standard procedure checking the glove's leak-tightness against water (and optionally air). The method is conceptually similar to the water-leak test in EN 455-1 but is designed for protective gloves and micro-organism protection (EN ISO 374-5).
Penetration, permeation, and degradation are three distinct failure mechanisms:
- Penetration: passage through visible defects (macroscopic)
- Permeation: molecular diffusion through intact material (invisible)
- Degradation: material change promoting both
In practice: a glove with no visible defects can still fail due to permeation. Conversely, passing a penetration test alone is insufficient to guarantee protection against chemical permeation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between penetration and permeation?
Penetration is the passage through visible defects (holes, tears) at a macroscopic level. Permeation is molecular diffusion through intact material without visible damage. Permeation is invisible and cannot be detected by visual inspection.
What does the penetration test per EN ISO 374-2 test?
EN ISO 374-2 tests the glove's leak-tightness against water and optionally air. A passed test confirms no visible defects are present that would allow chemical ingress.
Does a passed penetration test mean the glove is safe against chemicals?
No. The penetration test checks for visible defects only. Chemical protection also requires the permeation test per EN 16523-1, which measures molecular passage through intact material.