How do you choose a chemical-resistant glove?

Short answer: Read Section 8 of the chemical's Safety Data Sheet, identify the chemical family, then match it to a glove material that resists that family with an acceptable breakthrough time. No single material is universal — nitrile handles oils and many solvents, butyl handles ketones and gases, and Viton handles aromatics — so a correct chemical-resistant glove selection is always chemical-specific, not brand-specific.

Chemical-resistant glove guide: materials, permeation, and breakthrough time (2026)

Chemical protection is the one glove category where a comfortable, well-fitting glove can still fail completely. A chemical does not have to tear a glove to reach the skin — it can permeate through intact material at the molecular level. OSHA's hand-protection rule, 29 CFR 1910.138, requires gloves selected for the specific hazard, and the permeation data that drives that selection is standardized under ANSI/ISEA 105. This chemical-resistant glove guide is written for lab managers, maintenance teams, and EHS staff who need to translate a Safety Data Sheet into the right glove on the shelf. We cover material chemistry, the permeation and breakthrough-time scale, degradation, and a worked SDS-to-glove example.

Why this matters.
Permeation is invisible. A worker can wear a clean, intact glove while a solvent passes through it and is absorbed through the skin, a route of exposure that bypasses respiratory protection entirely. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 requires a hazard assessment before PPE selection, and for chemicals that assessment must use permeation and breakthrough-time data — not the assumption that any rubber glove will do.

Part 1 — Permeation, degradation, and penetration are three different failures

Chemical glove performance is described by three distinct mechanisms, and a glove can pass one while failing another:

• Permeation — the chemical diffuses through intact glove material at the molecular level. Measured as breakthrough time (minutes until it reaches the inside) and permeation rate.
• Degradation — the chemical physically damages the glove: swelling, hardening, cracking, or dissolving. A glove can degrade quickly even if breakthrough is slow.
• Penetration — bulk flow through pinholes, seams, or punctures. This is why thickness and pinhole-free manufacturing matter.

Part 2 — Chemical glove material decode table

Each elastomer resists some chemical families and fails against others. This is the core selection table for a chemical-resistant glove:

Match the material to the chemical from our Chemical-Resistant Gloves range, and remember that thicker disposables from the Nitrile Gloves and Latex Gloves lines extend breakthrough time only for incidental contact, not immersion.

Part 3 — ANSI/ISEA 105 permeation level decode table

ANSI/ISEA 105 rates chemical permeation on a 0-6 scale based on breakthrough time. Higher is better:

Breakthrough times are measured for one chemical at one concentration and temperature — a glove rated Level 5 for one solvent may be Level 0 for another. This permeation scale is separate from the cut scale; see our ANSI/ISEA 105 cut-level guide for the A1-A9 mechanical ratings.

Part 4 — How to select a chemical glove from the SDS

1. Open Section 8 of the SDS. "Exposure controls / personal protection" lists recommended glove materials and sometimes a breakthrough time.
2. Identify the chemical family. Acid, base, ketone, aromatic solvent, chlorinated solvent, oil/fuel, or aqueous salt — this is what determines the material in Part 2.
3. Pick the material that resists that family. Use the decode table; if you handle a mixture, choose the material that resists the most aggressive component.
4. Confirm the breakthrough level. Match the manufacturer's permeation data for that exact chemical to the required contact time using the Part 3 scale.
5. Set a change-out interval. Replace the glove before the breakthrough time elapses, and immediately after any splash, swelling, or color change.

Part 5 — Worked example: selecting a glove for solvent degreasing

A maintenance tech degreases parts with an acetone-based cleaner. The SDS Section 8 flags ketones. Here is the selection on real SKUs:

1. Rule out nitrile for immersion. Nitrile resists oils but performs poorly against ketones, so disposable nitrile such as the Gloveworks HD Orange Nitrile gloves is fine for incidental oil contact but not acetone immersion.
2. Choose butyl for the ketone. Butyl is the correct elastomer for acetone and MEK; select a butyl glove from the chemical-resistant gloves range and confirm its acetone breakthrough rating.
3. Use thick latex for aqueous cleanup. For the water-based wash step, the SAS Safety 6604 Thickster Latex gloves in X-Large (or the 6603 Large) handle the aqueous, alkaline portion.
4. Size correctly. Order the right fit using our glove size chart so the chemical glove seals at the cuff.
5. For acids, switch material again. If the line also handles dilute acids, the Ansell TouchNTuff 93-800 chemical-resistant nitrile gloves cover splash-level acid and caustic contact.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best chemical-resistant glove material?

There is no single best — it depends on the chemical. Nitrile is the best general-purpose choice for oils and many solvents, butyl is best for ketones and gases, and Viton is best for aromatic and chlorinated solvents. Match the material to the chemical family using the Part 2 table.

What is breakthrough time for chemical gloves?

Breakthrough time is the number of minutes from first contact until the chemical permeates through to the inside of the glove. ANSI/ISEA 105 rates it on a 0-6 scale, from under 10 minutes (Level 0) to over 480 minutes (Level 6).

Do nitrile gloves protect against chemicals?

Nitrile resists oils, fuels, greases, and many solvents and caustics, which makes it the most common chemical-resistant glove material. It performs poorly against ketones like acetone and against strong oxidizers, so always confirm the specific chemical.

What gloves protect against acetone?

Butyl gloves are the correct choice for acetone and other ketones. Nitrile and latex break through quickly against acetone, so they are unsuitable for immersion in it.

Where do I find the recommended glove on a Safety Data Sheet?

Section 8, "Exposure controls / personal protection," lists recommended glove materials and sometimes a breakthrough time. Start every chemical glove selection there.

What is the difference between permeation and degradation?

Permeation is the chemical diffusing through intact material at the molecular level; degradation is physical damage such as swelling, cracking, or dissolving. A glove can resist degradation while still permeating, which is why both are checked.

Do thicker gloves resist chemicals longer?

Greater thickness increases breakthrough time for the same material, so an 8-mil nitrile glove resists longer than a 4-mil one. Thickness does not change which chemicals a material resists, only how long it lasts against them.

What is ANSI/ISEA 105 for chemicals?

ANSI/ISEA 105 is the U.S. standard that classifies glove performance, including a chemical-permeation scale of 0-6 based on breakthrough time. The same standard also covers cut, puncture, and abrasion — see our cut-level guide.

Can one glove handle a mixture of chemicals?

Choose the material that resists the most aggressive component in the mixture, then verify breakthrough against that component. Mixtures can permeate faster than any single ingredient, so reduce the change-out interval.

Are latex gloves chemical-resistant?

Latex resists acids, bases, alcohols, and water-based chemicals but fails against oils and organic solvents. It also carries a latex-allergy risk; see our nitrile vs latex vs vinyl gloves comparison.

What gloves resist gasoline and diesel?

Nitrile is the standard choice for fuels, oils, and greases and gives good breakthrough time against gasoline and diesel. Latex and vinyl are poor choices for petroleum products.

How often should chemical gloves be replaced?

Replace before the breakthrough time for your chemical elapses, and immediately after any splash, swelling, stiffening, discoloration, or tackiness. Treat a change in glove feel as a breakthrough warning.

Do disposable gloves protect against chemicals?

Disposable gloves protect against incidental splash for compatible chemicals but are not rated for immersion. For sustained contact, use a thicker reusable glove from the chemical-resistant gloves range.

What gloves protect against strong acids?

Neoprene, butyl, and PVC handle many strong acids well; nitrile handles dilute acids. Confirm the specific acid and concentration against the manufacturer's permeation data before selecting.

Does OSHA require chemical-resistant gloves?

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 requires gloves selected for the specific hazard, which for chemicals means using permeation and breakthrough data. A documented hazard assessment under 1910.132 supports the selection.

What is the most chemical-resistant glove overall?

Viton and butyl offer the broadest protection against aggressive organic chemicals but are expensive and specialized. For everyday mixed chemical work, neoprene and heavy nitrile give the best balance of breadth and cost.

Further reading on this site

• Chemical-resistant gloves — full lineup by material and application.
• Nitrile vs latex vs vinyl gloves — choosing the right disposable film.
• Glove size chart — measure and order the correct fit.
• Nitrile gloves complete buyer's guide — thickness, grip, and grades.
• ANSI/ISEA 105 cut-level guide — the mechanical side of the same standard.
• Nitrile gloves — disposable industrial and exam grades for incidental contact.
• Latex gloves — natural rubber for aqueous chemicals.
• Vinyl gloves — economical option for low-risk aqueous tasks.
• Cut-resistant gloves — when mechanical hazards accompany the chemical.
• Heat-resistant gloves — for hot chemical or thermal exposure.
• Material-handling gloves — coated grip gloves for general industrial work.