Which term best describes the flow of a chemical through openings in the garment rather than through the fabric itself?

• A. Degradation
• B. Penetration
• C. Permeation
• D. Diffusion

Answer: (B)

The flow of a chemical through openings in the garment rather than through the fabric itself is called penetration. This term captures how a contaminant can bypass the barrier by slipping through seams, gaps, or holes in the clothing, rather than moving through the fabric fibers.

Permeation, by contrast, describes the chemical moving through the fabric material itself at the molecular level, from one surface to the other, and is measured by breakthrough time and permeation rate. Degradation refers to chemical damage that weakens or breaks down the fabric, not the pathway the contaminant uses. Diffusion is a general movement of molecules from higher to lower concentration and can occur inside or through materials, but it doesn’t specifically describe passage through openings in the garment.