Nitrile Glove Chemical-Compatibility Reference
In general, nitrile rubber provides Nitrile:Nitrile: Short-term-term splash splash protection protection short-term splash protection* Organics Aqueous/Inorganic against the following chemicals. Cyclohexane 37% Formaldehyde Glutaraldehyde 10% Hydrochloric acid Nitrile has good general resistance to: Heptane 37% Hydrochloric acid • Oils Mineral spirits 30% Hydrogen peroxide • Fuels Pentane 10% Nitric acid • Some organic solvents Propylene glycol 50% Potassium hydroxide • Weak acids Naphtha 85% Phosphoric acid • Weak caustics Octane 50% Sodium hydroxide Octanol 10 - 13% Bleach *Breakthrough will not occur in under 15 mins Hexane 47% Sulfuric acid for a 5-mil or greater thickness glove. Heptane Ethidium bromide Mercury (metallic)
If gloves come in contact with the Nitrile:Nitrile: Poor Poor protection protection (<1 (<1 minute) minute) Organics Organics chemical below, they must be changed Acetone Ethanol immediately* to avoid exposure. 1,4-Dioxane Ethyl acetate Nitrile has poor resistance to: Acetonitrile Methanol • Alcohols Acrylonitrile n-Butanol Benzene Nitrobenzene • Ketones Carbon disulfide o-Xylene • Halogenated hydrocarbons Chloroform Phenol • Aromatic hydrocarbons Dichloromethane Pyridine • Esters Diethyl ether Tetrahydrofuran • Ethers Dimethylformamide (DMF) Toluene • Amines • Concentrated acids The chemicals listed in red are able to penetrate the skin, contributing to systemic toxic effects of exposure to the *Breakthrough may occur in under one minute chemical (ACGIH, Skin notation) for a 5-mil or lesser thickness glove.
Disposable nitrile gloves do not provide PoorPoor resistance (<1 (<1-minute-minute breakthrough) breakthrough) protection against these highly ++ SkinSkin corrosioncorrosion hazard hazard and/or and/or high hightoxicity toxicity corrosive chemicals. Concentrated acetic acid 88% Formic acid 30% Ammonium hydroxide 70% Nitric acid These are just a few examples. This is not a complete list. 95% Sulfuric acid *Hydrofluoric acid (HF) *See the FACT SHEET: Hydrofluoric Acid in the Chemical Hygiene Plan for glove recommendations for HF.
This poster is adapted from Penn’s CHP Fact Sheet: Disposable Nitrile Gloves in Chemical Lab
Scan the QR code to see the full Fact Sheet. Ver. 1.0 Feb 2019 KJB