Which term describes the ability of protective clothing to resist chemical attack but may fail due to mechanical wear or aging?

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

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that protective clothing can lose its protective performance because the material itself degrades with use and age, even when it still resists chemical attack. Degradation refers to the breakdown or weakening of the garment’s barrier properties over time due to wear, abrasion, heat, UV exposure, or environmental exposure. As the fabric, coating, or seams deteriorate, the protective function can decline, making the garment prone to failure despite its ongoing chemical resistance.

Permeation is about a chemical moving through the material on a molecular level while the barrier remains intact. Penetration means a chemical physically getting through a gap, tear, or hole in the garment. Absorption involves the chemical being taken up by the material itself. These describe other failure mechanisms, whereas degradation specifically covers the time- or wear-related decline in protective performance, which matches the scenario.