The following tables provide guidance in the selection of protective gloves for laboratory use (Refs. 1–6). If protection from more than one class of chemicals is required, double gloving should be considered. Table 1 covers general hand protection from scrapes, burns, ergonomic issues, cuts, and abrasions. Table 2 identifies specific glove materials and the chemicals and categories of chemicals they are resistant to. Table 3 identifies specific chemicals and characterizes how well specific glove materials provide protection against these chemicals. The ratings are abbreviated as follows: Very Good (VG); Good (G); Fair (F); Poor (P). Gloves ranked poor are not recommended. Chemicals marked with an asterisk (*) are for limited service. In selecting the appropriate protection, one should identify the hazard and whenever possible use engineering controls (e.g., drip controls on bottles, elimination of sharps, the use of ergonomically designed tools, etc.).
Glove | Application examples |
Cotton | Weighing, glass handling (avoiding contamination with skin oils); note that these gloves can be used as a first layer when also using other gloves such as for chemical hazards |
Leather | Moderate hot or cold material handling; moving equipment |
Gel-filled (anti-vibration) | Operation of vibrating equipment |
Kevlar or fine mesh | Work with sheet metal, glass, or heavy cutting; note that these will not protect against punctures |
Chemical resistant | See Table 2 below for specifics |
Insulated for heat | Furnace work; handling hot glass or metal |
Insulated for cold | Cryogenic work, filling Dewars, replenishing NMR magnets, etc. |
Glove material | Resistant to |
Viton | PCBs, chlorinated solvents, aromatic solvents |
Viton/Butyl | Acetone, toluene, aromatics, aliphatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, ketones, amines, and aldehydes |
SilverShield and 4H (PE/EVAL) | Morpholine, vinyl chloride, acetone, ethyl ether, many toxic solvents and caustics |
Barrier | Wide range of chlorinated solvents, aromatic acids |
PVA | Ketones, aromatics, chlorinated solvents, xylene, MIBK, trichloroethylene; DO NOT USE WITH WATER/AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS |
Butyl | Aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols, most inorganic acids, caustics, dioxane |
Neoprene | Oils, grease, petroleum-based solvents, detergents, acids, caustics, alcohols, solvents |
PVC | Acids, caustics, solvents, solvents, grease, oils |
Nitrile | Oils, fats, acids, caustics, alcohols |
Latex | Body fluids, blood, acids, alcohols, alkalis |
Vinyl | Body fluids, blood, acids, alcohols, alkalis |
Rubber | Organic acids, some mineral acids, caustics, alcohols; NOT RECOMMENDED FOR AROMATIC SOLVENTS, CHLORINATED SOLVENTS |
Chemical | Neoprene | Latex/Rubber | Butyl | Nitrile |
Continued on next page... | ||||
Acetaldehyde* | VG | G | VG | G |
Acetic acid | VG | VG | VG | VG |
Acetone* | G | VG | VG | P |
Ammonium hydroxide | VG | VG | VG | VG |
Amyl acetate | F | P | F | P |
Aniline | G | F | F | P |
Benzaldehyde* | F | F | G | G |
Benzene* | P | P | P | F |
Butyl acetate | G | F | F | P |
Butyl alcohol | VG | VG | VG | VG |
Carbon disulfide | F | F | F | F |
Carbon tetrachloride* | F | P | P | G |
Castor oil | F | P | F | VG |
Chlorobenzene* | F | P | F | P |
Chloroform* | G | P | P | F |
Chloronaphthalene | F | P | F | F |
Chromic acid (50%) | F | P | F | F |
Citric acid (10%) | VG | VG | VG | VG |
Cyclohexanol | G | F | G | VG |