RESISTANCE TO CHEMICALS OF COMMON GLOVE MATERIALS

(e=excellent; g=good; f=fair; p=poor; ~ = not recommended)

CHEMICAL

NATURAL RUBBER

NEOPRENE

NITRILE

VINYL

Acetaldehyde

G

G

E

G

Acetic acid

E

E

E

E

Acetone

G

G

G

F

Acrylonitrile

P

G

~

F

Ammonium hydroxide (saturated)

G

E

E

E

Aniline

F

G

E

G

Benzaldehyde

F

F

E

G

Benzene

P

F

G

F

Benzyl chloride

F

P

G

P

Bromine

G

G

~

G

Butane

P

E

~

P

Butylaldehyde

P

G

~

G

Calcium hypochlorite

P

G

G

G

Carbon disulfide

P

P

G

F

Carbon Tetrachloride

P

F

G

F

Chlorine

G

G

~

G

Chloroacetone

F

E

~

P

Chloroform

P

F

G

P

Chromic acid

P

F

F

P

Cyclohexane

G

E

~

P

Dibenzyl ether

F

G

~

P

Dibutyl phthalate

F

G

~

P

Diethanolamine

F

E

~

E

Diethyl ether

F

G

E

P

Dimethyl Sulfoxide**

~

~

~

~

Ethyl acetate

F

G

G

F

Ethylene dichloride*

P

F

G

P

Ethylene glycol

G

G

E

E

Ethylene Trichloride

P

P

~

P

Fluorine

G

G

~

G

Formaldehyde

G

E

E

E

Formic acid

G

E

E

E

Glycerol

G

G

E

E

 

 

CHEMICAL

NATURAL RUBBER

NEOPRENE

NITRILE

VINYL

Hexane

P

E

~

P

Hydrobromic acid (40%)

G

E

~

E

Hydrochloric acid

G

G

G

E

Hydrofluoric acid

G

G

G

E

Hydrogen peroxide

G

G

G

E

Iodine

G

G

~

G

Methylamine

G

G

E

E

Methyl cellosolve

F

E

~

P

Methyl chloride

P

E

~

P

Methyl ethyl ketone

F

G

G

P

Methylene chloride*

F

F

G

F

Monoethanolamine

F

E

~

E

Morpholine

F

E

~

E

Naphthalene

G

G

E

G

Nitric acid

P

P

P

G

Perchloric acid

F

G

F

E

Phenol

G

E

~

E

Phosphoric acid

G

E

~

E

Potassium hydroxide (saturated)

G

G

G

E

Propylene dichloride

P

F

~

P

Sodium hydroxide

G

G

G

E

Sodium hypochlorite

G

P

F

G

Sulfuric acid (concentrated)

G

G

F

G

Toluene

P

F

G

F

Trichloroethylene

P

F

G

F

Tricresyl phosphate

P

F

G

F

Triethanolamine

F

E

E

E

Trinitrotoluene

P

E

~

P

* Aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons will attack all types of natural and synthetic glove materials. Should swelling occur, the user should immediately change to fresh gloves.

 

**No data on the resistance to Dimethyl Sulfoxide of natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, rubber or vinyl materials are available. The manufacturers of Dimethyl Sulfoxide recommend the use of butyl rubber gloves.