Nitrile Gloves Chemical Resistance Guide - Information for Safeguarding the Hands

If you need information immediately, skip to the nitrile gloves chemical resistance chart to help you select the appropriate disposable glove material for the task.

Nitrile gloves are a great solution for jobs that require dexterity combined with protection from chemicals. However, there are some chemicals you will want to avoid. 

In this nitrile gloves chemical compatibility guide, we will give you a brief overview of common glove and chemical interactions as well as some information on how to identify unknown substances that may end up being aggressive enough to break down your gloves.

Are Nitrile Gloves Chemical Resistant?

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber with excellent flexibility, puncture resistance, strength and abrasion resistance. They also offer resistance to many chemicals making them great for general-duty short-duration tasks.

Are Nitrile Gloves Acid Resistant?

Nitrile gloves are resistant to alkaline solutions, as well as certain acidic solutions. However, if you encounter a strong alkaline solution, it is possible that the glove material may break down and deteriorate upon handling. Overall, nitrile gloves acid resistance is very good in comparison to latex gloves and vinyl gloves.

Will Acetone Dissolve Nitrile Gloves?

Acetone is an organic compound with properties similar to those of formic acid. They both dissolve in the presence of moisture. This is true for all organic compounds. The nitrile material for gloves will be degraded in the presence of acetone.

It is not recommended to use nitrile gloves around acetone. When exposed to ketones, they rapidly deteriorate.

Disposable Nitrile Gloves Chemical Resistance

Are all nitrile gloves chemical resistant? Only limited chemical protection is provided with thin nitrile gloves. When handling chemicals in laboratories, these gloves are intended to be used for a short period of time. Always remove and discard gloves immediately after contamination.

Nitrile has good resistance to:

• fuels
• petroleum products
• vegetable oils
• greases
• some organic solvents
• weak acids
• weak caustics
• household detergents

Nitrile has poor resistance to:

• ketones
• alcohols
• halogenated hydrocarbons
• aromatic hydrocarbons
• esters
• ethers
• amines
• strong acids

Protecting your skin with gloves is an important part of chemical safety. This means that you should be wearing the right type of glove and putting them on in a way that does not expose a part of your skin that is not protected.

There are many types of reactive chemical substances that can damage nitrile gloves and other materials.

Nitrile Gloves For Chemicals

When gloves are exposed to chemicals, they are judged on three criteria.

Breakthrough Time

When the exterior of the glove is exposed to a chemical, it takes this long to sense a substance inside. An outstanding glove is one that lasts more than eight hours.

Degradation

When a substance comes into contact with a solvent, it undergoes physical alterations such as swelling, splitting, softening, or shrinking. Even if there are no signs of deterioration, a glove will experience chemical breakthrough.

Permeation Rate

Once a liquid has passed through a glove material, this is the pace at which it passes through. Absorption on the surface, diffusion through the product, and desorption on the inside surface all contribute to this rate.

Nitrile Gloves Chemical Resistance Chart 

Not all chemicals react to nitrile gloves in the same way. Some react more than others. The substances on this gloves chemical resistance chart are intended to give you a general idea of what can happen when exposed to different chemicals and how to identify them.

Handling chemicals safely requires proper protective equipment. Use this nitrile glove compatibility guide as ​a quick reference to help you select the best type of protective gloves.

How Thick Should Nitrile Gloves Be?

Glove thickness of standard nitrile gloves is usually a matter of preference. A thicker gauge glove is more resistant to punctures from sharp objects, but they can be somewhat bulky and stiff. While thinner gloves offer less resistance to rough handling, they are more comfortable.

Thicker rubber nitrile gloves can provide more protection than a thinner glove of the same material, but at the cost of flexibility and feel sensitivity.

Double-gloving may be used to extend a glove's overall breakthrough time but this is not recommended for long-term tasks. It causes hand exhaustion making it best for only short-term activities.

What are the thickest nitrile gloves?

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.

What are the thinnest nitrile gloves?

The thinnest are generally 5-Mil or lesser thickness glove. Some thinner versions go down to 0.3 mils, but they can be easily punctured by sharp objects and they offer little resistance to many chemicals and solvents.

Size Selection for Optimal Glove Performance

When choosing gloves based on size, the most important thing to keep in mind is how the gloves will be used. The appropriate glove should enable you to complete your tasks with practical ease.

If you are working with chemicals on a daily basis, it is important to choose a glove that does not compromise your ability to perform these tasks in an efficient manner. If you are working in very cold temperatures, you may want to wear thicker protective gloves.

A glove that is too small for your hand will be overstretched and less protective. A glove that is too big will reduce flexibility and get destroyed easily.  To find the right sizing, consult the manufacturer's size table.

Proper Glove Removal

No matter what type of gloves you are using, it is important to know how to take them off correctly. Failure to do so can result in chemical contamination.

Cross-Contamination Soiled Gloves

Avoid touching surfaces with soiled gloves. This can expose you later to chemical hazards. 

Here are 3 easy ways you can reduce cross-contamination.

Nitrile Glove Allergies

If you are sensitive to the chemical additives used as accelerators in manufacturing nitrile gloves, try accelerator-free nitrile glove products. 

Nitrile Gloves Chemical Resistance

Make sure to use the nitrile gloves chemical resistance chart above as a quick reference to help you select the best type of protection for your needs.

By the way, we carry a full line of disposable nitrile gloves for safeguarding your hands. Please contact us with any concerns or questions. We are happy to assist in any way possible.