GLOVE SELECTION CHART

(Used here by permission from Florida State University EHS)

The following guide was developed from information in several sources. The information presented here is believed to be accurate; however, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Many factors affect the breakthrough times of glove materials including, but not limited to:

1. Thickness of glove material
2. Concentration of the chemical worked with
3. Amount of chemical the glove comes in contact with
4. Length of time which the glove is exposed to the chemical
5. Temperature at which the work is done
6. Possibility of abrasion or puncture.

This information is provided as a guide to proper glove material selection. Glove performance varies between manufactures, so always consult the manufacturer to make sure you will have the right glove for your application.

 Selection Key:

 4

Excellent, breakthrough times generally greater than 8 hours.

3

Good, breakthrough times generally greater than 4 hours.

2

Fair, breakthrough times generally greater than 1 hour.

1

Not Recommended, breakthrough times generally less than 1 hour.

?

Not Tested or No Information, check other references.

 

GLOVE SELECTION GUIDE

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

 

Chemical

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Organic Acids

Acetic acid

2

3

4

2

1

4

Formic acid

2

3

4

3

2

2

 Lactic Acid

 4

 4

 4

 3

 4

 4

 Maleic acid

 3

3

2

3

3

4

Oxalic acid

4

4

4

4

4

4

  

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Inorganic acids

Chromic acid up to 70%

1

1

4

3

3

4

Hydrochloric acid up to 37%

3

3

4

3

3

3

Hydrofluoric acid up to 70%

2

2

3

1

1

?

Nitric acid 70+ %

?

1

2

?

1

4

Perchloric acid up to 70%

4

4

3

4

4

4

 Phosphoric acid 70+ %

4

4

4

4

4

4

Sulfuric acid 70+ %

1

2

4

2

1

2

  

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Alkalis

Ammonium hydroxide up to 70%

1

3

4

2

3

?

Potassium hydroxide up to 70%

4

4

4

4

4

4

Sodium hydroxide 70+ %

4

4

4

4

3

3

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neorene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Salt Solutions

Ammonium nitrate

4

4

4

4

4

4

Calcium hypochlorite

1

3

4

4

3

4

Ferric chloride

4

4

4

4

4

4

Mercuric chloride

3

3

4

3

3

4

Potassium cyanide

4

4

4

4

4

4

Potassium dichromate

4

4

4

4

4

4

Potassium permanganate

4

4

?

4

4

?

Sodium cyanide

4

4

4

4

4

4

Sodium thiosulfate

4

4

4

4

4

4

  

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

 Aromatic hydrocarbons

Benzene

1

1

1

1

1

3

 Gasoline

1

1

1

1

4

4

Naphthalene

1

1

1

1

4

4

Toluene

1

1

1

1

1

4

Xylene

1

1

1

1

1

4

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Aliphatic hydrocarbons

Diesel fuel

1

2

1

2

3

4

Hexanes

1

1

1

1

4

4

Kerosene

1

3

1

3

4

4

Naphtha

1

2

1

3

4

4

Pentane

1

1

1

1

3

4

Petroleum ether

1

1

1

2

3

4

Turpentine

1

1

1

1

2

4

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Halogenated hydrocarbons

Carbon tetrachloride

1

1

1

1

1

4

Chloroform

1

1

1

1

1

4

Methylene chloride

1

1

1

1

2

3

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's)

1

4

4

?

2

4

Perchloroethylene

1

1

1

1

2

4

Trichloroethylene

1

1

1

1

1

4

  

 

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Esters

Ethyl acetate

1

1

3

1

1

1

Butyl acetate

1

1

2

1

1

1

Methyl acetate

1

1

4

1

1

1

Isobutyl acrylate

1

1

4

1

1

1

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Ethers/Glycols

Diethyl ether

1

2

1

1

2

1

Ethylene glycol

1

2

4

1

2

4

Isopropyl ether

1

2

1

1

3

1

Propylene glycol

?

3

3

2

2

?

Tetrahydrofuran

1

1

2

1

1

1

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Aldehydes

Acetaldehyde

1

1

4

1

1

1

Acrolein

1

1

4

1

1

1

Benzaldehyde

1

1

4

1

1

3

Butyraldehyde

1

1

4

1

1

1

Formaldehyde

1

2

4

2

4

4

Glutaraldehyde

?

4

4

2

?

4

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Ketones

Acetone

1

1

4

1

1

1

Diisobutyl ketone

1

1

2

1

1

2

Methyl ethyl ketone

1

1

4

1

1

1

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Alcohols

Allyl alcohol

1

1

4

1

4

3

Butyl alcohol

1

3

4

2

3

4

Ethyl alcohol

1

2

4

1

3

4

Isopropyl alcohol

1

3

4

2

4

4

Methyl alcohol

1

1

4

1

1

4

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Amines

Aniline

1

1

4

1

1

2

Ethanolamine

2

4

4

3

4

4

Ethylamine

1

2

4

1

1

1

Methylamine

1

3

4

2

4

4

Triethanolamine

1

1

4

1

4

4

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Elements

Bromine

1

2

1

?

1

4

Chlorine aqueous

?

1

2

?

1

4

Iodine

?

1

3

?

3

4

Mercury

?

4

4

?

4

4

 

 

Natural Rubber

 

Neoprene

 

Butyl

 

PVC

 

Nitrile

 

Vitonâ

Miscellaneous

Acetic anhydride

1

2

4

1

1

1

Acetonitrile

1

1

4

1

1

1

Acrylamide

1

1

3

1

2

3

Carbon disulfide

1

1

1

1

1

4

Cresols

1

3

4

?

2

4

Cutting fluid

?

2

?

2

3

?

Dimethyl sulfoxide

1

4

4

1

1

1

Hydraulic oil

?

?

1

2

3

?

Hydrazine

2

4

4

4

4

1

Hydrogen Peroxide

4

2

4

3

4

4

Lubricating oil

3

3

?

?

4

3

Malathion

?

3

1

?

3

?

Nitrobenzene

1

1

4

1

1

4

Phenol

1

3

2

1

1

4

Photo solutions

3

4

?

3

4

?

Picric acid

1

2

3

1

2

4

Pyridine

1

1

4

1

1

1

Vitonâ is a registered trademark of DuPont Dow Elastomers.

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