Resources

GLOVE SELECTION CHART

The following guide is a general guide for glove selection in relation to chemicals handled. The information presented here is believed to be accurate; however, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Many factors affect the breakthrough times of glove materials including, but not limited to:

1. Thickness of glove material
2. Concentration of the chemical worked with
3. Amount of chemical the glove comes in contact with
4. Length of time which the glove is exposed to the chemical
5. Temperature at which the work is done
6. Possibility of abrasion or puncture.

Some Common Sense Rules for Glove Use

  • Select gloves which are resistant to the chemicals you may be exposed to. Consult the relevant Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which may recommend a particular glove material.
  • Select gloves of the correct size and fitting; gloves that are too small are uncomfortable and may tear whereas overlarge gloves may interfere with dexterity. In some cases, such as use of HF, it may be advisable to select gloves that can be removed very rapidly in an emergency.
  • Before use, check gloves (even new ones) for physical damage such as tears or pin holes and for previous chemical damage: this is especially important when dealing with dangerous materials such as HF.
  • When working, it may be advisable to wash the external surface of the gloves frequently with water.
  • Some gloves, especially lightweight disposables, may be flammable: keep hands well away from naked flames or other high temperature heat sources.
  • When removing gloves, do so in a way that avoids the contaminated exterior contacting the skin.
  • Wash hands after removing gloves.
  • Dispose of contaminated gloves properly.
  • Do not attempt to re-use disposable gloves.
  • Never wear possibly contaminated gloves outside of the laboratory or to handle telephones, computer keyboards, etc.

This information is provided as a guide to proper glove material selection. Glove performance varies between manufacturers, so always give yourself extra time and do not push glove strength to the estimated limits and consult a certified safety consultant when in doubt to make sure you have the right glove for your application.

 Selection Key:

 4

Excellent, breakthrough times generally greater than 8 hours.

3

Good, breakthrough times generally greater than 4 hours.

2

Fair, breakthrough times generally greater than 1 hour.

1

Not Recommended, breakthrough times generally less than 1 hour.

?

Not Tested or Information unknown.  Use known tested glove type.

 

GLOVE SELECTION GUIDE

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

 

Chemical

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Organic Acids

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acetic acid

2

3

4

2

1

4

Formic acid

2

3

4

3

2

2

 Lactic Acid

 4

 4

 4

 3

 4

 4

 Maleic acid

 3

3

2

3

3

4

Oxalic acid

4

4

4

4

4

4

  

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Inorganic acids

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chromic acid up to 70%

1

1

4

3

3

4

Hydrochloric acid up to 37%

3

3

4

3

3

3

Hydrofluoric acid up to 70%

2

2

3

1

1

?

Nitric acid 70+ %

?

1

2

?

1

4

Perchloric acid up to 70%

4

4

3

4

4

4

 Phosphoric acid 70+ %

4

4

4

4

4

4

Sulfuric acid 70+ %

1

2

4

2

1

2

  

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Alkalis

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammonium hydroxide up to 70%

1

3

4

2

3

?

Potassium hydroxide up to 70%

4

4

4

4

4

4

Sodium hydroxide 70+ %

4

4

4

4

3

3

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neorene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Salt Solutions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammonium nitrate

4

4

4

4

4

4

Calcium hypochlorite

1

3

4

4

3

4

Ferric chloride

4

4

4

4

4

4

Mercuric chloride

3

3

4

3

3

4

Potassium cyanide

4

4

4

4

4

4

Potassium dichromate

4

4

4

4

4

4

Potassium permanganate

4

4

?

4

4

?

Sodium cyanide

4

4

4

4

4

4

Sodium thiosulfate

4

4

4

4

4

4

  

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

 Aromatic hydrocarbons

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benzene

1

1

1

1

1

3

 Gasoline

1

1

1

1

4

4

Naphthalene

1

1

1

1

4

4

Toluene

1

1

1

1

1

4

Xylene

1

1

1

1

1

4

 

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Aliphatic hydrocarbons

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diesel fuel

1

2

1

2

3

4

Hexanes

1

1

1

1

4

4

Kerosene

1

3

1

3

4

4

Naphtha

1

2

1

3

4

4

Pentane

1

1

1

1

3

4

Petroleum ether

1

1

1

2

3

4

Turpentine

1

1

1

1

2

4

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Halogenated hydrocarbons

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carbon tetrachloride

1

1

1

1

1

4

Chloroform

1

1

1

1

1

4

Methylene chloride

1

1

1

1

2

3

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's)

1

4

4

?

2

4

Perchloroethylene

1

1

1

1

2

4

Trichloroethylene

1

1

1

1

1

4

  

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Esters

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethyl acetate

1

1

3

1

1

1

Butyl acetate

1

1

2

1

1

1

Methyl acetate

1

1

4

1

1

1

Isobutyl acrylate

1

1

4

1

1

1

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Ethers/Glycols

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diethyl ether

1

2

1

1

2

1

Ethylene glycol

1

2

4

1

2

4

Isopropyl ether

1

2

1

1

3

1

Propylene glycol

?

3

3

2

2

?

Tetrahydrofuran

1

1

2

1

1

1

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Aldehydes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acetaldehyde

1

1

4

1

1

1

Acrolein

1

1

4

1

1

1

Benzaldehyde

1

1

4

1

1

3

Butyraldehyde

1

1

4

1

1

1

Formaldehyde

1

2

4

2

4

4

Glutaraldehyde

?

4

4

2

?

4

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Ketones

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acetone

1

1

4

1

1

1

Diisobutyl ketone

1

1

2

1

1

2

Methyl ethyl ketone

1

1

4

1

1

1

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Alcohols

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allyl alcohol

1

1

4

1

4

3

Butyl alcohol

1

3

4

2

3

4

Ethyl alcohol

1

2

4

1

3

4

Isopropyl alcohol

1

3

4

2

4

4

Methyl alcohol

1

1

4

1

1

4

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Amines

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aniline

1

1

4

1

1

2

Ethanolamine

2

4

4

3

4

4

Ethylamine

1

2

4

1

1

1

Methylamine

1

3

4

2

4

4

Triethanolamine

1

1

4

1

4

4

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Elements

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bromine

1

2

1

?

1

4

Chlorine aqueous

?

1

2

?

1

4

Iodine

?

1

3

?

3

4

Mercury

?

4

4

?

4

4

 

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Miscellaneous

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acetic anhydride

1

2

4

1

1

1

Acetonitrile

1

1

4

1

1

1

Acrylamide

1

1

3

1

2

3

Carbon disulfide

1

1

1

1

1

4

Cresols

1

3

4

?

2

4

Cutting fluid

?

2

?

2

3

?

Dimethyl sulfoxide

1

4

4

1

1

1

Hydraulic oil

?

?

1

2

3

?

Hydrazine

2

4

4

4

4

1

Hydrogen Peroxide

4

2

4

3

4

4

Lubricating oil

3

3

?

?

4

3

Malathion

?

3

1

?

3

?

Nitrobenzene

1

1

4

1

1

4

Phenol

1

3

2

1

1

4

Photo solutions

3

4

?

3

4

?

Picric acid

1

2

3

1

2

4

Pyridine

1

1

4

1

1

1

Vitonâ is a registered trademark of DuPont Dow Elastomers.
Handiwash (tm) 12V Mobile Vehicle Hand Wash (Now Hook Up to 110v Power with SEC1223 Option)
 Only $399.50
Hot and Cold Water in a Mobile, Vehicle Hand Wash Station (Waste Catch Now Available)
NSF Certified Single Basin Self Contained 6" Portable Sink
 Only $1,756.80
NSF certified portable sink at an affordable price.
Portable Eyewash Station (gravity fed)
 Only $205.34
On SALE for only $189.50
OSHA often issues citations for lack of a eyewash station!
Handstand (tm) Mobile Single User Handwash Station (Wheeled Version) - (Installed Heater Option Available) (19 Gallons Waste Storage)
 Only $546.00
New improved mobility and waste storage
 
Order online using our 128-bit secure system or order Toll Free (U.S.): 877-208-3109 or Fax Your Order: 562-630-3800. http://www.allsafetyproducts.biz Website Layout Design and Text: Copyright© All Safety Products, Inc. 2008