Having a disposable glove is a prerequisite to many jobs that require you to handle chemicals that could be toxic or corrosive. Many people assume that this type of glove is impermeable to all chemicals and do not need to be concerned about the actual chemical resistance these gloves have. However, this line of thought is not necessarily true and can lead employees to believe that their gloves are more resistant than they actually are.
If a task at your workplace requires you to handle chemicals, but the gloves you are provided with are not heavy dut, and are likely to get damaged by the chemical, wouldn’t it make sense to wear something better?
Not all gloves are created equal, and that is true when it comes to chemical resistance. Chemicals will react differently with the material and surface of some gloves, but others do not have any effect on them at all. Certain chemicals are hazardous, making it necessary for workers in many industries to wear personal protective equipment like gloves.
When using gloves in your workplace, it is important to be aware of the chemical resistance these types of gloves do or don’t have.
Are Disposable Nitrile Gloves Chemical Resistant?
Disposable nitrile gloves are made with synthetic rubber material which means they are less susceptible to degradation than natural rubbers, but they are still not as versatile as a rubber made of polychloroprene. Nitrile gloves offer a balance of toughness and elasticity. Its resistance to chemicals makes it ideal for environments with harsh chemicals or caustic materials. This makes nitrile gloves good for short handling tasks that need special chemical protection against oils and chemicals.
Disposable nitrile gloves can resist alkaline solutions, as well as certain acidic solutions. Nitrile gloves are not good at resisting an extremely strong alkaline solution, however, because they may break down. Overall, nitrile gloves offer better acid resistance than latex and vinyl gloves.
However, acetone can dissolve nitrile gloves, as well as all other organic compounds, because acids and bases are good at dissolving other acids and bases.
Are Disposable Vinyl Gloves Chemical Resistant?
Vinyl gloves are popular, but they aren't suited to everyone's needs. They're often the least expensive option, but the quality is lower than that of latex and nitrile gloves.
A vinyl glove is perfect for short term use. It is not very durable and is not considered a suitable replacement for nitrile or latex gloves as they offer no protection at all from punctures and tears. While a vinyl glove offer some protection from water, it should never be worn while handling chemicals. A user generally only wears a vinyl glove for a very short period of time like 5 minutes or less compared to a nitrile glove which can be worn longer.
Again, a vinyl glove is great if you only need to use it for short periods of time. It is not resistant to many chemicals, though, so it shouldn't be used in environments where hazardous chemicals are being used. A vinyl glove is usually best when you just want to put it on to handle food and drink.
Are Disposable Latex Gloves Chemical Resistant?
Latex gloves are the most common type of glove used in many occupational settings. Latex is not resistant to chemicals, so a latex glove is mainly used in the food industry and the medical industry because it does protect well against bloodborne pathogens.
When it comes to chemicals, a latex glove don't offer much protection compared to a nitrile glove. The gloves can begin to break down immediately when exposed to a common lab chemical like concentrated sulfuric acid. The gloves also tear easily and offer no protection against punctures. So, gloves made of nitrile e are better choices for handling these chemicals in the laboratory.
Latex gloves might cause allergic reactions in some people, so you should be aware of this potential problem when using them. Aside from latex allergy because of proteins from latex itself, latex gloves are sometimes combined with powder for enhanced grip and to prevent the wearer from getting sweaty hands, but the powder can cause allergic skin rashes or asthma.
How can you tell if a glove is chemical-resistant?
Thick nitrile gloves are 10 mil thick or greater. The higher number of mils a glove is, the thicker it is. A 5-Mil or greater thickness glove provides superior chemical resistance.
Thinner gloves made from nitrile offer the best touch sensitivity and dexterity. When wearing nitrile surgical gloves, it is essential to keep in mind that these thin materials leave bigger spaces in the glove material at a molecular level. These larger spaces allow a chemical to permeate through very quickly, limiting the time period that these gloves can be worn. Thin nitrile gloves should not be used for long periods of time in order to protect the user from possible exposure to chemicals.
Before putting them on, check your gloves for chemical deterioration, such as swelling, cracking, shrinking, or discoloration. If you see these problems, don't use the gloves. Broken or torn gloves may no longer provide protection.
Conclusion
There are many different kinds of disposable gloves and some of them have a different level of chemical resistance than others. Whatever your needs may be, always remember that you should be checking the packaging of whatever brand you are purchasing to determine whether they are resistant to the chemicals you will be working with. The more information you have on hand regarding what chemicals your gloves can resist, the easier it will be for you to ensure that you are wearing and using the correct pair of gloves for any given task.
