Chemical resistance of glove materials
Legend: E=Excellent, G=Good, F=Fair, P=Poor
| Chemical | Natural Rubber | Neoprene | Nitrile | Vinyl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetaldehyde | G | G | E | G |
| Acetic acid | E | E | E | E |
| Acetone | G | G | G | F |
| Acrylonitrile | P | G | -- | F |
| Ammonium hydroxide (sat.) | G | E | E | E |
| Aniline | F | G | E | G |
| Benzaldehyde | F | F | E | G |
| Benzene | P | F | G | F |
| Benzyl chloride | F | P | G | P |
| Bromine | G | G | -- | G |
| Butane | P | E | -- | P |
| Butyraldehyde | P | G | -- | G |
| Calcium hypochlorite | P | G | G | G |
| Carbon disulfide | P | P | G | F |
| Carbon tetrachloride | P | F | G | F |
| Chlorine | G | G | -- | G |
| Chloroacetone | F | E | -- | P |
| Chloroforma | P | F | G | P |
| Chromic acid | P | F | F | E |
| Cyclohexane | F | E | -- | P |
| Dibenzyl ether | F | G | -- | P |
| Dibutyl phthalate | F | G | -- | P |
| Diethanolamine | F | E | -- | E |
| Diethyl ether | F | G | E | P |
| Dimethyl sulfoxide | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Ethyl acetate | F | G | G | F |
| Ethylene dichloride | P | F | G | P |
| Ethylene glycol | G | G | E | E |
| Ethylene trichloride | P | P | -- | P |
| Fluorine | G | G | -- | G |
| Formaldehyde | G | E | E | E |
| Formic acid | G | E | E | E |
| Glycerol | G | G | E | E |
| Hexane | P | E | -- | P |
| Hydrobromic acid (40%) | G | E | -- | E |
| Hydrochloric acid (conc.) | G | G | G | E |
| Hydrofluoric acid (30%) | G | G | G | E |
| Hydrogen peroxide | G | G | G | E |
| Iodine | G | G | -- | G |
| Methylamine | G | G | E | E |
| Methyl cellosolve | F | E | -- | P |
| Methyl chloride | P | E | -- | P |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | F | G | G | P |
| Methylene chloride | F | F | G | F |
| Monoethanolamine | F | E | -- | E |
| Morpholine | F | E | -- | E |
| Naphthalene | G | G | E | G |
| Nitric acid (conc.) | P | P | P | G |
| Perchloric acid | F | G | F | E |
| Phenol | G | E | -- | E |
| Phosphoric acid | G | E | -- | E |
| Potassium hydroxide (sat.) | G | G | G | E |
| Propylene dichloride | P | F | -- | P |
| Sodium hydroxide | G | G | G | E |
| Sodium hypochlorite | G | P | F | G |
| Sulphuric acid (conc.) | G | G | F | G |
| Toluene | P | F | G | F |
| Trichloroethylene | P | F | G | F |
| Tricresyl phosphate | P | F | -- | F |
| Triethanolamine | F | E | E | E |
| Trinitrotoluene | P | E | -- | P |
Notes
- Aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons will attack all types of natural and synthetic glove materials. Should swelling occur, the user should change to fresh gloves and allow the swollen gloves to dry and return to normal.
- No data on the resistance to dimethyl sulfoxide of natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile rubber or vinyl materials are available; the manufacturer of the substance recommends the use of butyl rubber gloves.
Source: National Research Council, Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1981, pp. 159-160.