Glove Materials Chart

Type

Advantages

Disadvantages

Use Against

Cotton/fabric blend

Absorbs perspiration, keeps objects clean

No chemical resistance

Non-hazardous materials, slippery surfaces, mild heat or cold.

Natural rubber latex.

Low cost, good physical properties, dexterity.

Poor vs. oils, greases, organics.

Frequently imported; may be poor quality.  May result in allergic reactions.

Bases, alcohols, dilute water solutions; fair vs. aldehydes, ketones,.light irritant protection, infectious agents

Natural rubber blends.

Low cost, dexterity, better chemical resistance than natural rubber vs. some chemicals.

Physical properties frequently inferior to natural rubber.  May result in allergic reaction.

Same as natural rubber.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Low cost, very good physical properties, medium cost, medium chemical resistance

Plasticizers can be stripped; frequently imported may be poor quality

Strong acids and bases, salts, other water solutions, alcohols, oils, greases and petroleum products.

Neoprene

Medium cost, medium chemical resistance, medium physical properties, high tensile strength and heat resistance

None determined.

Oxidizing acids, anilines, phenol, glycol ethers, solvents oils, mild corrosives.

Nitrile

Low cost, excellent physical properties, dexterity

Poor vs. benzene, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, many ketones

Oils, greases, aliphatic chemicals, xylene, perchloroethylene, trichloroethane; fair vs. toluene

Butyl

Speciality glove, polar organics, high resistance to gas and water vapor.

Expensive, poor vs. hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents

Glycol ethers, ketones, esters

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)

Specialty glove, resists a very broad range of organics, good physical properties

Very expensive, water sensitive, poor vs. light alcohols

Aliphatics, aromatics, chlorinated solvents, ketones (except acetone), esters, ethers

Fluoro- elastomer (Viton) ®

Specialty glove, organic chlorinated and aromatic solvents. Flexible.

Extremely expensive, poor physical properties, poor vs. some ketones, esters, amines

Aromatics, chlorinated solvents, also aliphatics and alcohols

Norfoil, Silver Shield®, 4H®

Excellent chemical resistance

Poor fit, stiff, easily punctures, poor grip

Use for Hazmat work

Zetex®

Good heat resistance

Poor grip, stiff.

Replace asbestos gloves

Leather

Good skin abrasion protection.  Good grip.

Absorb chemical contaminants.

Injuries from sparks or scraping against rough surfaces.  Used in combination with an insulated liner when working with electricity.

Metal mesh

Specialty glove. Protects against cuts when working with sharp tools.

Expensive.  Some models may reduce ability to grip.

Protect hands form accidental cuts and scratches.  Special micro-mesh versions available for use in high hazard surgery.

Aluminized

Specialty glove.  Heat resistance

Poor grip, discomfort.  Poor chemical resistance.

Insulate hands from intense heat working molten materials.

Glove Chemical Resistance Chart Vocabulary

Breakthrough Time: The elapsed time between initial contact of the chemical on the glove surface and the analytical detection on the inside of the glove. Typically expressed as a greater than symbol (>), the shows the test was run for 480 minutes and then stopped. Also may be expressed as "ND" for none detected

Degradation: A change in one or more of the physical properties of a glove due to contact with a chemical. Can appear as a swelling, shrinkage or cracking of the material. Rating example is "E" for excellent, meaning the glove has little or no signs of degradation when exposed to the challenge chemical. A good degradation rating does not guarantee an acceptable breakthrough time.

Permeation Rate: The rate at which a chemical passes through a glove material. The process involves absorption on the glove surface, diffusion of the chemical through the material, and desorption on the inside surface of the glove.  This is a complex measurement (µg/cm²/MIN (micrograms per square centimeter per minute). This measurement is also limited to the "LDL" or Lower Detection Limit of the equipment used. The example given is .001, but is sometimes expressed as "E" or "P" for excellent or poor.

E.g., Glove Material

Challenge Chemical

Degradation

Breakthrough Time

Permeation Rate

Nitrile

Isopropanol

E

>480 min.

.001