Chemical Resistance Charts for
Commonly Used Disposable Gloves

Data taken from Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Scientific & Industrial Business, memos dated February 22, 2002 from Ruthlyn M. Reyes on chemical permeation testing performed on Safetskin Nitrile Exam Gloves and Safeskin PFE Latex Exam Gloves.

Protective Gloves Selection Guide

Chemical Hazards
Butyl

Nio-
Prenea

Nitrileb

Polyvinyl
chloride

Polyvinyl
alcohol

Latex
Poly-
ethylene
Viton
Acids, dilute
+
+
+
+
-
+
-
+
Alcohol
+
+
+
+
-
+
+
+

Alkali (bases), dilute

+
+
+
+
-
+
-
+
Aromatics
-
-
-
-
+
-
-
+
Chlorinated
hydrocarbons
+
-
+
-
+
-
-
+
Epoxy resins
+
+
+
+
-
-
-
+
Esters
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Hydrocarbons
+
+
+
-
+
-
-
+
Ketones (acetone,
MEK, etc.)
+
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Lacquer thinner
+
+
+
-
+
-
-
+
Oils, grease
+
+
+
+
+
-
-
+
Petroleum distillates,
mineral
+
+
+
-
+
-
-
+
PCBs
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+

a Playtex gloves, which are made of neoprene and latex can be classifed with neoprene.
b Also Called
+ Recommended.
- Not recommended.

 

Chemical
Tested
Purple Nitrile,
Powder Free
Nitrile Exam Gloves
PFE Latex
Exam Gloves
Actual
Breakthrough*
in Minutes
Normalized
Breakthrough**
in Minutes
Actual
Breakthrough*
in Minutes
Normalized
Breakthrough**
in Minutes
Acetic acid (99%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Acetone (99%)
<3
3
<3
<3
Acetonitrile (99%)
<15
<15
<15
<15
Ammonium Hydroxide (30%)
30
60
60
60
Carbon Disulfide (99%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Chlorine (gas)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Chloroform (99%)
<15
<15
<15
<15
Diethylamine
<3
<3
<3
<3
Dimethylsulfoxide
12
15
15
15
Dimethylformamide
<3
<3
<3
<3
D-Liminene (Orange Solvent)
<15
<15
<15
<15
Ethanol
<3
<3
6
6
Ethidium Bromide
>240
>240
>240
>240
Ethyl Acetate
<3
<3
<3
<3
Ethyl Ether (99%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Ethylene Oxide liquid (100%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Gluteraldehyde
>240
>240
>240
>240
HCl (10%)
>240
>240
>240
>240
HCl (concentrated, 37%)
30
60
45
60
Heptane
<3
<3
15
75
Hexane
<3
<3
18
21
Hydrogen Peroxide (30%)
>240
>240
>240
>240
Methanol (99%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Methylene Chloride (Dichloromethane)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Mineral Spirits
<3
<3
54
>240
Stoddard Solvent (99%)
<3
<3
84
234
Nitric Acid (10%)
>240
>240
>240
>240
Nitrobenzene (99%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Octanol (Octyl Alcohol)
3
3
75
108
Potassium Hydroxide (50%)
30
60
120
120
Sodium Hydroxide (50%)
>240
>240
>240
>240
Sulfuric Acid (97%)
<15
<15
<15
<15
Tetrachloroethylene
<3
<3
<3
<3
Tetrahydrofuran (99%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Toluene (99%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
Xylene (99%)
<3
<3
<3
<3
* Actual Breakthrough is defined as the elapsed time between the initial application of the test chemical to the appropriate surface of the material and its subsequent presence on the other side of the material.
** Normalized Breakthrough is defined as the time at which the permeation rate reaches 0.1 ug/cm2/min.