Chemical Gloves: Materials, Breakthrough and Markings

A chemical can get past a glove in two ways: it can pass through the material, or it can damage the material itself. Ansell's chemical resistance guide calls these permeation and degradation, and notes that the two do not always go together.

Permeation, breakthrough and degradation

Permeation is a chemical passing through glove material without going through pinholes or other visible openings. Ansell defines breakthrough time as the time from the start of a test to the first detection of the chemical on the other side of the sample. Ansell says these times show how long a glove resists when totally immersed in the chemical.

Degradation is a loss of physical properties after contact with a chemical. Ansell notes that a glove material may go hard, stiff or brittle, or grow softer, weaker and swell.

Ansell also states that permeation times do not equate to safe wear time. Wear time changes with how the glove is put on, the temperature, the chemical's toxicity and other factors, and permeation can differ at seams and joins.

Thickness matters too. OSHA notes that, as a general rule, thicker glove material gives greater chemical resistance, but thick gloves may reduce grip and dexterity.

Glove materials and what they resist

OSHA lists chemical-resistant gloves made from natural rubber, butyl, neoprene, nitrile and fluorocarbon (viton) rubbers, and from plastics such as PVC, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene, which can be blended or laminated for better performance.

Treat the table below as a starting point only. Ansell rates every glove and chemical pair separately, and says the suitability of a glove for a specific job must be determined by testing by the purchaser.

Material	What the source says it protects against	Where the source says it falls short
Nitrile	Oils, greases, acids, caustics and alcohols, and chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene	Generally not recommended for strong oxidising agents, aromatic solvents, ketones and acetates
Neoprene	Hydraulic fluids, petrol, alcohols, organic acids and alkalis	Not stated in the source
Butyl	Peroxide, highly corrosive acids, strong bases, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters and nitro compounds	Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated solvents
Laminate film	Ansell describes its Barrier 5 layer laminated glove as having extreme resistance against a wide range of chemicals	Not stated in the source
PVC	Ansell describes its PVC apron material as giving chemical splash protection and withstanding oils and grease	Not stated in the source

EN ISO 374 markings: Type A, B and C

EN ISO 374 gives each test chemical a performance level based on its breakthrough time. Level 6, the highest, is more than 480 minutes, the figure Ansell quotes for its AlphaTec 53-002.

The glove type then depends on how many test chemicals reach a set time. Type A: at least 6 chemicals for 30 minutes or more. Type B: at least 3 chemicals for 30 minutes or more. Type C: at least 1 chemical for 10 minutes or more.

The letters printed with the rating name the test chemicals the glove passed. For example, A is methanol, B acetone, F toluene, J n-heptane, K sodium hydroxide, L sulphuric acid, O ammonium hydroxide, P hydrogen peroxide and T formaldehyde.

Penetration testing under EN 374 checks that the glove does not leak, and degradation is measured as the change in puncture resistance after continuous contact with the test chemical.

Ansell lists our Solvex 37-145 nitrile glove and the elbow-length Solvex 37-185 as EN 374 Type A. The AlphaTec 53-002 gauntlet, neoprene with a laminate film, reaches 17 of 18 chemicals on EN 374:2016, 16 of them at class 6.

The Australian glove standard

AS/NZS 2161.1:2016 covers the selection, use and maintenance of occupational protective gloves. Standards Australia describes it as recommendations to help users select gloves suitable for their work and to use and maintain them so the glove's function is not compromised.

Matching the glove to section 8 of the SDS

The glove choice starts with section 8 of the Safety Data Sheet, exposure controls and personal protection. Safe Work Australia's code for preparing safety data sheets says this section should name the types of gloves, boots and bodysuits required, and their properties, for example cotton, PVC or nitrile.

The same code says PPE should be used only when other controls have been found impracticable, or together with them, and that some chemicals can reduce the effectiveness of the materials PPE is made from.

With the chemical and glove material from section 8, check the glove maker's permeation data for that chemical. Ansell's reports note that synergistic effects of mixing chemicals are not accounted for, and that a risk assessment comes before choosing PPE.

ChemMan, from Lupin Systems, keeps safety data sheets in one place and works out signage and PPE from what you store. Our page on choosing PPE from a Safety Data Sheet covers the rest of section 8.

Splash protection beyond the glove

For splashes to the body, Ansell describes the 18 mil PVC of its AlphaTec 56-101 apron as giving chemical splash protection and helping it withstand oils, grease, punctures and abrasion. For full body cover, see our page on chemical coverall types.

The gear we stock

Ansell AlphaTec Solvex 37-145 Nitrile Glove, 33 cm Ansell AlphaTec Solvex 37-185 Nitrile Gauntlet, 46 cm Ansell AlphaTec 53-002 Neoprene Chemical Gauntlet Shield Right XtraGuard Black Nitrile Gloves Ansell AlphaTec PVC Apron, Heavy Duty, White

Signs for the same area

Wear goggles and rubber gloves when handling chemicals Wear face shield and rubber gloves when handling chemicals Corrosive liquids, wear protective equipment

Common questions

What does breakthrough time mean on a chemical glove?

It is the time from the start of a laboratory test to the first detection of the chemical on the other side of the glove sample. Ansell says these times show how long a glove resists when totally immersed in the chemical. Ansell states that permeation times do not equate to safe wear time.

What is the difference between EN 374 Type A, B and C gloves?

Type A gloves resist at least 6 test chemicals for 30 minutes or more, Type B at least 3 chemicals for 30 minutes or more, and Type C at least 1 chemical for 10 minutes or more.

Are nitrile gloves good for solvents?

It depends on the solvent. OSHA says nitrile gloves protect against chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene, but are generally not recommended for aromatic solvents, ketones and acetates.

Which glove resists the widest range of chemicals?

Ansell describes its laminate film Barrier glove as having extreme resistance against a wide range of chemicals, and lists its neoprene and laminate AlphaTec 53-002 at 17 of 18 chemicals on EN 374:2016. Check the maker's data for your exact chemical.

Which Australian standard covers choosing protective gloves?

AS/NZS 2161.1:2016, Occupational protective gloves, Part 1: Selection, use and maintenance. It gives recommendations for selecting gloves suitable for the work and for using and maintaining them.

Where do I find which glove a chemical needs?

In section 8 of the Safety Data Sheet. Safe Work Australia's code for preparing safety data sheets says it should state the types of gloves required and their properties, for example PVC or nitrile.

Sources

Checked against the sources above on 2026-10-21.

General information, not advice for your site. What protection a job needs comes from the Safety Data Sheet, the task and your risk assessment. The statements on this page are taken from the sources listed below and were checked on the date shown. Check the source, or ask your regulator.

Which gloves do your chemicals call for?

ChemMan, from Lupin Systems, keeps your safety data sheets in one place and works out the signage and the PPE from what you store.

See ChemMan