Permeability of Organic Solvents Through Two-Layer Safety Gloves Determined by a Gravimetric Method

Organic solvents are harmful to humans, and many of them are recognized as carcinogens. Therefore, it is necessary to protect hands from contact with them. Most methods for testing solvent resistance of gloves use gas chromatography. However, these methods are expensive and so complex that they present application problems for most glove producers and users. A simple gravimetric method to test solvent resistance o f gloves was developed. It was tested by measuring the permeability of organic solvents such as white spirit, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, benzene, p-xylene, and trichloroethylene through gloves made of natural rubber, polyvinyl chloride, neoprene, perbunan, polyvinyl alcohol, and two-layer gloves made of natural rubber and neoprene. This method proved to be a simple, economical, and reliable way to examine glove permeability.