Working with chemicals without proper hand protection can lead to chemical burns, dermatitis, and long-term health effects including organ damage from absorbed toxins. Choosing the correct chemical-resistant glove material is critical because no single glove material protects against all chemicals.
Glove Materials and Their Chemical Resistance
Nitrile gloves offer broad resistance to oils, fuels, solvents, and many acids, making them the most versatile choice for general industrial chemical handling. Neoprene gloves resist a wide range of acids, caustics, and alcohols. Butyl rubber gloves provide excellent protection against ketones and esters that penetrate other materials. PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) gloves resist aromatics and chlorinated solvents but degrade in water.
EN 374 Standard Explained
The EN 374 standard classifies chemical-resistant gloves based on permeation testing — how long a chemical takes to pass through the glove material. Type A gloves offer protection against at least 6 chemicals with permeation breakthrough times exceeding 30 minutes. Type B protects against at least 3 chemicals, and Type C against at least 1.
Double Gloving and Layering
In high-risk chemical environments, double gloving — wearing a cut-resistant inner glove beneath a chemical-resistant outer glove — provides protection against both mechanical and chemical hazards. This technique is standard practice in UAE petrochemical facilities and laboratory environments.
TexiExp Technologies supplies nitrile, neoprene, butyl, and specialty chemical-resistant gloves with EN 374 certification.