Influence of Hydration State on Permeation Testing and Vapor Transport Properties of Protective Clothing Layers

Protective clothing systems composed ofpermselective polymer film laminates are analternative to standard air-permeable garments basedon activated carbon. These polymer layers aredesigned with high water vapor permeation rates andlow permeation of chemical warfare agents. Polymerfilms that have a significant water vapor flux usuallyalso have an affinity for water, and will hydrate andswell significantly at high humidity levels. Thepolymer film’s increase in water content has thepotential to affect the transport rate of chemicalwarfare agents in vapor and liquid form, and usuallyalso has a large effect on the intrinsic water vaporpermeability of the membrane.