Breakthrough time is defined as the time for first appearance of the chemical on the skin through the glove.

• A. Time for first appearance on the skin through the glove
• B. Time for the chemical to evaporate through the glove
• C. Time until the glove shows visible wear
• D. Time for the chemical to travel from glove to air

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is breakthrough time in barrier permeation tests. Breakthrough time is defined as the moment when the chemical first appears on the skin side beneath the glove, meaning it has diffused through the glove material to the wearer’s skin. This measures how long the glove can slow or block the chemical from reaching the skin; a longer breakthrough time indicates better protective performance under the test conditions. It is not about the chemical evaporating through the glove, the glove showing visible wear, or the chemical traveling into the air from the glove.