The Right Glove for the Job

The glove charts for the department of chemistry are organized in three ways. First, the physical characteristics of glove material is charted. In the second chart, glove material degradation in specific compounds is examined. Finally, the permeability of compounds in gloves is analyzed in chart three. The following links will take you directly to the chart of your choice:

Physical Characteristics

Degradation

Permeability

For more information check out the glove compatibility guide at http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/Lab/CHP/gloves.htm or call the Environmental Safety Office - 684-2794.

Physical Characteristics of Glove Materials*
Material (Designation in Matrices)	Abrasion Resistance	Cut Resistance	Flexibility	Heat Resistance	Ozone Resistance	Puncture Resistance	Tear Resistance	Relative Cost
Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE)	E	G	G	G	E	G	G	Low
Natural Rubber	E	E	E	F	P	E	E	Medium
Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber (NBR)	E	E	E	G	F	E	G	Medium
Neporene	E	E	G	G	E	G	G	Medium
Nitrile Rubber (Nitrile)	E	E	E	G	F	E	G	Medium
Nitrile Rubber + Polyvinyl Chloride (Nitrile + PVC)	G	G	G	F	E	G	G	Medium
Polyethylene	F	F	G	F	F	P	F	Low
Polyurethane	E	G	E	G	G	G	G	High
Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)	F	F	P	G	E	F	G	Very High
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)	G	P	F	P	E	G	G	Low
Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR)	E	G	G	G	F	F	F	Low
Viton	E	G	G	G	F	F	F	Low
Butly Rubber (Butyl)	F	G	G	E	E	G	G	High

* Ratings are subject to variation depending on formulation, thickness, and whether the material is supported by fabric.

E - excellent; G - good; F - fair; P - poor

Degradation

Degradation is a reduction in one or more physical properties of a glove due to chemical contact. Exposed gloves may swell, get harder or softer, stiffen or weaken or become brittle. Degredation-resistance testing of gloves is important to assure worker safety, however, permeation-resistance is also essential.

Data shown are No performance warranty in intended or implied. Ratings were arrived at by visual and physical examination of samples after their exposure to the chemical stated. Sources for this information include studies conducted at the University of Washington and Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, 1981.

When considering a glove for a specific application, it is important to consider other requirements such as thermal conditions, chemical concentration, physical hazards and mixtures of chemicals. A glove should be tested in actual service before specification.

NEO SUP	- Neoprene Supported	NAT SUP	- Natural Rubber Supported
NEO UNSUP	- Neporene Unsupported	NAT UNSUP	- Natural Rubber Unsupported
NIT SUP	- Nitrile Supported	PVC SUP	- PVC Supported
NIT UNSUP	- Nitrile Unsupported

E	- Chemical has little or effect	G	- Chemical has minor effect
F	- Chemical has minor to moderate effect	P	- Chemical has moderate to severe effect
NR	- Chemical has severe effect	NT	- Chemical not tested

Chemical	Cas #	NEO SUP	NEO UNSUP	NIT SUP	NIT UNSUP	NAT SUP	NAT UNSUP	PVC SUP
Acetaldehyde	00075070	F	F	F	F	P	P	P
Acetic Acid (Glacial)	00064197	E	F	E	E	E	G	E
Acetic Acid 50%	00064197	E	G	E	E	E	G	E
Acetone	00067641	E	E	F	F	E	E	E
Acetonitrile	00075058	G	F	P	P	P	P	NR
Acrylonitrile	00107131	G	G	G	G	P	P	F
Ammonium Hydroxide 30%	01336216	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Amyl Alcohol	00071410	E	E	E	E	G	G	E
Aniline	00062533	P	NR	P	P	NR	NR	NR
Animal Fats		E	E	E	E	F	F	G
Benzaldehyde	00100527	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
Benzene	00071432	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Benzyl Alcohol	00100516	G	G	G	G	F	F	G
Benzyl Chloride	00100447	P	P	P	P	NR	NR	P
Borax (Saturated)	01303964	E	E	E	E	G	G	G
Bromine	07726956	G	G	NT	NT	G	G	G
Butane	00106978	E	E	NT	NT	P	P	P
Butraldehyde	00123728	G	G	NT	NT	P	P	G
Butyl Acetate	00123864	F	F	F	F	P	P	P
Calcium Chloride	10035048	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Calcium Hypochlorite	07778543	G	G	G	G	G	G	G
Calcium Hydroxide	01305620	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Carbon Disulfide	00075150	P	P	G	G	P	P	F
Carbon Tetrachloride	00056235	F	P	F	F	NR	NR	F

E	- Chemical has little or effect	G	- Chemical has minor effect
F	- Chemical has minor to moderate effect	P	- Chemical has moderate to severe effect
NR	- Chemical has severe effect	NT	- Chemical not tested

Chemical	Cas #	NEO SUP	NEO UNSUP	NIT SUP	NIT UNSUP	NAT SUP	NAT UNSUP	PVC SUP
Capryl Alcohol	00123966	G	G	G	G	F	F	G
Cellosolve Acetate	00111159	F	P	F	F	P	P	F
Chlorine (gas)	07782505	E	NT	E	NT	NT	NT	F
Chloroacetone	00078955	E	E	NT	NT	F	F	P
Chlorobenzene	00108907	P	NR	P	P	NR	NR	P
Chloroform	00067663	F	P	F	F	NR	NR	F
Chromic Acid	01333820	F	F	F	F	P	P	E
Citric Acid	00077929	E	E	E	E	G	G	G
Coconut Oil		E	E	E	E	P	P	G
Corn Oil		E	E	E	E	P	P	G
Cresols	01319773	F	P	F	F	NR	NR	F
Cutting Oil 10%		G	G	G	G	P	P	G
Cyclohexane	00110827	E	E	NT	NT	F	F	P
Dibenzyl Ether	00103504	G	G	NT	NT	F	F	P
Dibutylphthalate	00084742	E	E	E	E	F	F	P
Diethanolamine	00111422	E	E	NT	NT	F	F	E
Diethylamine	00109897	F	P	F	F	P	P	P
Diesel Fuel		E	E	E	E	P	P	G
Diethyl Ether	00060297	F	P	F	F	P	P	P
Dimethylformamide	00068122	G	F	G	G	P	P	P
Dimethylsulfoxide	00067685	E	G	E	E	P	P	F
Dioctyl Phthalate	00117840	E	G	E	E	F	F	P
Dioxane	00123911	F	F	F	F	P	P	F
Ethanol	00064175	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Ethyl Acetate	00141786	G	F	F	F	F	F	P
Ethyl Benzene	00100414	P	NR	P	P	NR	NR	P
Ethyl Ether	00060297	F	P	F	F	P	P	P
Ethylene Dichloride	00107062	F	F	G	G	P	P	P
Ethylene Glycol	00107211	G	F	G	G	F	F	G
Formaldehyde 37%	00500000	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Formic Acid	00064186	G	G	F	F	G	G	G
Gasoline	08006619	E	G	E	E	P	P	F
Glycerine	00056815	E	E	E	E	G	G	E
Glycine	00056406	E	E	E	E	G	G	E
N-Heptane	00142825	E	G	E	E	P	P	G
N-Hexane	00110543	E	G	E	E	P	P	F
Hydraulic Fluid		E	G	E	E	P	P	G
Hydrobromic Acid 40%	10035106	E	E	NT	NT	G	G	E
Hydrochloric Acid 10%	07647010	E	G	E	E	E	G	E
Hydrochloric Acid 36%	07647010	F	P	F	F	P	P	P
Hydrofluoric Acid 30%	07664393	G	G	G	G	G	G	E
Hydrogen Peroxide	07722841	G	G	G	G	G	G	E
Isooctane	01111659	E	G	E	E	P	P	F
Isopropyl Alcohol	00067630	G	G	G	G	G	G	G
Kerosene	08008206	E	G	E	E	P	P	G
KOH 45%	01310583	E	E	E	E	G	G	G
Lactic Acid 85%	00050215	G	G	G	G	G	G	G
Lauric Acid	00143077	G	F	G	G	P	P	F
Ligroine	08032324	E	G	E	E	P	P	G
Linseed Oil		G	G	G	G	P	P	F
Maleic Acid	00110167	G	G	G	G	F	F	G

E	- Chemical has little or effect	G	- Chemical has minor effect
F	- Chemical has minor to moderate effect	P	- Chemical has moderate to severe effect
NR	- Chemical has severe effect	NT	- Chemical not tested

Chemical	Cas #	NEO SUP	NEO UNSUP	NIT SUP	NIT UNSUP	NAT SUP	NAT UNSUP	PVC SUP
Methylamine	00074895	F	P	F	F	P	P	P
Methanol	00067561	G	G	G	G	G	G	F
Methyl Ethyl Ketone	00078933	P	P	NR	NR	F	F	NR
Methylene Chloride	00075092	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone	00108101	P	P	NR	NR	P	P	NR
Mineral Oil	08012951	E	G	E	E	P	F	E
Mineral Spirits		E	G	E	E	F	P	E
Morpholine	00110918	E	E	NT	NT	F	F	E
Monoethanolamine	00141435	E	E	NT	NT	F	F	E
Nitric Acid 10%	07697372	G	F	G	G	P	P	F
Nitric Acid 30%	07697372	P	P	P	P	NR	NR	NR
Nitrobenzene	00098953	P	P	P	P	NR	NR	P
Octane	00111659	E	G	E	E	P	P	F
Oleic Acid	00112801	G	F	G	G	P	P	F
Olive Oil	08001250	E	G	E	E	P	P	F
Oxalic Acid	00144627	G	G	G	G	G	G	G
N-Pentanol	00071410	E	E	E	E	G	G	G
Perchloric Acid	07601903	G	G	F	F	F	F	E
Phenol	00108952	E	E	NT	NT	G	G	E
Perchloroethylene	00127184	F	P	F	G	NR	NR	P
Phosphoric Acid	07664328	E	E	NT	NT	G	G	E
Pine Oil	08001093	G	G	G	G	P	P	G
Potassium Hydroxide	01310583	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Potassium Permanganate 10%	07711647	G	F	G	G	P	P	F
Sodium Hydroxide 50%	01310732	E	E	E	E	E	E	E
Sodium Hypochlorite	07681529	P	P	F	F	G	G	G
Stearic Acid (saturated)	00571114	E	G	E	E	G	G	G
Sulfuric Acid 10%	07664939	G	G	G	G	G	G	G
Sulfuric Acid 20%	07664939	F	F	F	F	F	F	F
Toluene	00108883	F	P	F	G	NR	NR	F
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	00071556	F	P	F	G	NR	NR	P
Trichloroethylene	00079016	F	P	F	G	NR	NR	P
Tricresyl Phosphate	01330785	F	F	NT	NT	P	P	F
Triethanolamine	00102716	E	E	E	E	F	F	E
Vegetable Oils		E	E	E	E	P	P	E
Xylene (o, m, p)	01330207	F	P	F	G	NR	NR	F

Permeation

The Permeation Resistance Guide is a reference point for proper glove analysis in hazardous chemical handling. All test results were produced independently. Radian Corporation of Austin Texas (an AIHA accredited laboratory) performed the permeation tes ting in accordance with ASTM Standard F739-81.

Each Polymer is Ranked according to breakthrough time as a reference for future testing by the user. Breakthrough time is the elapsed time between initial contact of an aqueous solution with the exterior surface of a glove and the time at which the solution can be detected on the interior surface.

Actual performance of a glove depends upon varied factors. Work application, chemical mix, chemical contact time, and glove thickness are just a few.

Chemical	Best	Second	Third
Acetaldehyde	Rubber/R	Rubber/S	Neoprene
Acetone	Rubber/R	Neoprene
Acetonitrile	Neoprene	Rubber/R	PVC
Chlorine Gas	Nitrile/C, Neoprene	PVC
Dibutylphthalate	Neoprene	Nitrile/C
Diethylamine	Rubber/R	Neoprene	PVC
Diethyl Ether	Nitrile/C	Neoprene
Dimethylformamide	Neoprene	Nitrile/C	Nitrile/U
Dioxane	PVC	Nitrile/C	Neoprene
Ethylene Dibromide	Neoprene	PVC	Nitrile/U
Ethoxyethanol	Neoprene	Nitrile/C	Nitrile/U
Ethylene Oxide	Nitrile/U
Formaldehyde 37%	Nitrile/C, PVC, Nitrile/U

Chemical	Best	Second	Third
N-Hexane	Neoprene	Nitrile/U	PVC
Iso Octane	Neoprene, Nitrile/C, Nitrile/U	PVC	Rubber/R
Methylene Chloride	PVC	Neoprene	Nitrile/C
Methyl Ethyl Ketone	Rubber/R	Rubber/S
N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone	Rubber/R	Neoprene	Rubber/S
N-Pentanol	Nitrile/C	Neoprene	PVC
Pheonl (85% in water)	Neoprene	Nitrile/C	PVC
Styrene (monomer)	PVC	Neoprene	Nitrile/C
Tetrahydrofuran	PVC	Neoprene
Trichloroethylene	Neoprene	PVC	Nitrile/U
Vinyl Chloride (monomer)	Nitrile
Xylene	PVC	Neoprene	Nitrile/C

Key: R Rough Finish; S Smooth Finish; U Unsupported; C Coated