Thiocompounds as simulants of sulphur mustard for testing of protective barriers

The protective potential of protective devices such as respirators, suits, gloves, and overboots is widely evaluated using the standard colorimetric test (spot disc breakthrough time test, also called SD BTT) involving sulfur mustard (SM) as the challenge chemical. The vesicant nature of SM makes the test inconvenient and poses stringent safety demands. Moreover, such tests are allowed only at a limited number of facilities, causing delay in product development and supply. This prompted the present study on the search for suitable SM simulant responsive to SD BTT test. The diffusivities at BTT (D_BTT) of 10 commercially available thiocompounds through butyl rubber (IIR) were compared vis‐a‐vis D_BTT of SM. For three representative thiocompounds, namely methyl (phenyl thio)acetate, 2‐chloroethyl phenyl sulfide (2‐CEPS) and phenyl‐n‐propyl sulfide (PNPS), the transport parameters through IIR were obtained. PNPS and 2‐CEPS were further compared with respect to D_BTT in elastomers such as IIR, ethylene–propylene–diene methylene rubber, polydimethylsiloxane, nitrile rubber, polybutadiene, and natural rubber. 2‐CEPS showed generally same order of D_BTT as SM implying its potential use as a simulant. The transport parameters for various 2‐CEPS/elastomer systems were also determined. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009