Chemical Resistant Gloves

Chemical Resistant Gloves

Chemical resistant gloves are essential PPE whenever workers handle corrosive, toxic, or hazardous fluids — acids, alkalis, solvents, oils, and cleaning chemicals all pose skin absorption and chemical burn risks that the correct glove will prevent. Not all gloves protect against all chemicals: glove material selection must match the specific substance being handled. AIMS Industrial supplies chemical resistant gloves for industry, laboratories, and maintenance operations across Australia.

Glove Materials and Chemical Compatibility

The most important selection decision is glove material. No single material protects against all chemicals — each has specific strengths and limitations.

• Nitrile: The most versatile chemical glove material. Excellent resistance to oils, fuels, greases, and many solvents. A strong general-purpose choice for most workshop and maintenance chemical handling tasks.
• Natural rubber (latex): Excellent flexibility and dexterity, good resistance to acids and alkalis. Unsuitable for oils and petroleum products. Note latex allergy risk for some users.
• Neoprene: Good resistance to acids, alkalis, alcohols, and some solvents. Better chemical breadth than nitrile, though slightly less dexterous. Suited to broad-spectrum chemical handling.
• PVC (polyvinyl chloride): Economical option with moderate acid and alkali resistance. Suited to light duty work with dilute chemicals and cleaning products. Less resistant to organic solvents than nitrile or neoprene.
• Butyl rubber: Outstanding resistance to ketones, esters, and highly aggressive solvents where nitrile and neoprene break through. Specified for permeation protection against high-hazard organic solvents.

Checking Compatibility Against the SDS

Always cross-reference the glove manufacturer's chemical permeation data against the Safety Data Sheet for the substance being handled. The SDS Section 8 (Exposure controls/personal protection) should specify glove material recommendations. Permeation breakthrough time — how long before the chemical penetrates the glove material — is as important as the resistance rating. For extended handling, use a glove with breakthrough time greater than the expected exposure duration.

Thickness and Length

Glove thickness and length affect both protection level and dexterity. Thicker gloves (0.5 mm+) provide more chemical permeation resistance and physical protection; thinner gloves (0.2 mm) allow better tactile feedback for precision tasks. Elbow-length gloves protect the forearm when working with large volumes of liquid or dipping into tanks. Select the shortest glove length that covers the likely splash zone.

Standards and Testing

Chemical resistant gloves should comply with AS/NZS 2161.10 (equivalent to EN 374), which covers glove performance against chemical permeation, penetration, and degradation. Look for compliance marking and the specific chemical test class on the glove packaging.

Order Chemical Resistant Gloves from AIMS Industrial

AIMS Industrial stocks chemical resistant gloves in nitrile, neoprene, natural rubber, and PVC. For help selecting the correct glove material for your specific chemicals, contact our team.