Chemical
Gloves
UK industry spends more than £30m a year buying chemical protective gloves to use as PPE.
Chemical gloves are available in a variety of materials, however there is no single glove material able to provide unlimited resistance to any individual or combination of chemicals – so understanding the protection offered by your chemical gloves is vital.
Seek Expert Advice
When choosing gloves, always seek expert help from the distributor – that’s us! We can help give you glove performance test data which can be used to assist in predicting the permeation, penetration, and degradation of specific glove materials by specific chemical agents.
What is a chemical agent?
All liquids, solids, gases, vapours, aerosols, fumes, dusts, and fibres are classified as chemical agents – they are called chemical agents to distinguish them from biological agents (such as micro-organisms) and physical contaminants, such as noise, vibration, and friction.
Did you know…
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People Sensitised to Chemicals
Up to 5 million people in Europe are already sensitised to chemicals present in textile and leather articles.
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Sensitisation Cases Each Year
Up to 180 000 new sensitisation cases occur each year.
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Chemicals & Chemical Mixtures
There are more than 350000 chemicals and chemical mixtures in the world, registered for commercial production and use.
Source: ECHA European Chemical Agency
Standards & Markings
Shop Sustainably♻️
When shopping for our chemical gloves, you’ll find a range of products marked as Good for People, Good for Community, or Good for Planet. These icons represent that these products meet our Sustainable Selection criteria, and can be used as an indicator to ensure you’re shopping for a more socially responsible safety option.
Our Safety Brands
Nitrile Coated Chemical Gloves
Nitrile Chemical Gloves offer a robust barrier that provides a good level of resistance against old, grease, and some chemicals. Nitrile Chemical Gloves are used in a range of industries, including; Automotive, Construction, Warehousing, Manufacturing, Food Production, and Industrial Cleaning.
An embossed pattern is often applied to the finished coating on the palm of the glove to further enhance grip. Some manufacturers add a flock lining to the gloves interior to make the glove more comfortable for the wearer as it aids donning and doffing.
Nitrile Chemical Gloves can be flexible and tactile and combined with nitriles other features including the wide variety of chemical agents it will protect against, makes Nitrile Chemical Gloves a highly popular choice when Chemical protective gloves are required. However, some wearers may be or can develop an allergic reaction to Nitrile. That said, it is far less common than people with an allergy to latex.
Nitrile gloves offer good resistance to solvents, grease, certain acids and oils. It is also a great choice when working with:
- Aniline
- Asphalt
- Benzylic alcohol
- Brake fluid
- Cutting oil
- Cyclohexane
- Fertilizers
- Gasoline
- Household detergents
- Mineral oil
- Naphtha
- Xylene
However, nitrile gloves are not suitable for use with all types of chemicals. They fail to protect against chemicals such as aromatic solvents, concentrated acids, and highly corrosive chemicals, therefore alternative chemical gloves will be required for applications involving these types of chemical agents.
Latex Coated Chemical Gloves
Latex is a versatile material that provides a good amount of elasticity – making Latex chemical gloves a popular choice, particularly in laboratories, agriculture, food production and the pharmaceutical industry. The elasticity also allows for greater dexterity and flexibility.
With elasticity comes the ability to get a tight fit and as such, the interior of the glove is sometimes covered with a powder that makes the glove easier to Don and Doff.
Latex is often a less expensive alternative to Nitrile, however, as with all chemical applications, EN 374 performance is the real indicator as to whether Latex Chemical Gloves are suitable for choice.
Latex chemical gloves offer protection against many biological and chemical agents, including:
- Acetone
- Formaldehyde
- Hydrochloric acid
- Methanol
- Nitric Acid
- Phosphoric acid
- Potassium hydroxide
- Sodium hydroxide
- Sulfuric acid
However, latex can cause some wearers to have an allergic reaction. Therefore, they are not suitable for all employees requiring chemical gloves.
PVC Coated Chemical Gloves
Polyvinyl Chloride, known as PVC, is a material often used in the manufacture of chemical resistant gloves. PVC Gloves provide a good level of protection against acids, bases, amines, peroxides, and fats.
As is the case with all chemical gloves, the protection offered against the chemical or chemicals, in accordance with all parts of EN 374, will determine the suitability of the glove.
PVC also protects against these other substances:
- Ammonium Hydroxide
- Benzylic alcohol
- Boric Acid
- Chromic Acid
- Creosote
- Diluted Sulphuric Acid
- Ethylene Glycol
- Fluorides
- Methanal
- Phosphoric Acid
- Silicates
- Sodium Hypochlorite
PVC, however, does not perform well against various organic solvents. It also has poor heat resistance, which makes it unusable in high-heat environments.
Most PVC gloves stay flexible even in cold environments. It offers relatively high puncture resistance and provides a great grip. PVC Chemical Gloves have their uses in industries, such as:
- Commercial Fishing
- Construction
- Mining
- Petrochemical