Choosing the right chemical-resistant glove can feel overwhelming. A wrong choice can lead to severe injuries and long-term health issues. This guide simplifies the technical terms to help you protect your hands effectively.

To select the right nitrile glove, you must understand three key concepts from the EN 374 standard: permeation, degradation, and breakthrough time. These metrics explain how a glove material reacts to chemical contact and for how long it can keep you safe.

Chemical Resistance Test.

As someone who has spent over a decade in the protective glove industry¹, I’ve seen how crucial these details are. Wholesalers and safety managers often come to me confused by data sheets and European standards². They want a simple answer to "Which glove is best?" The truth is, the "best" glove depends entirely on the specific chemical and the task. Understanding these standards isn’t just about compliance; it’s about preventing life-altering injuries. Let me break it down for you, just as I do for my partners.

What Determines Chemical Resistance in Nitrile Gloves?

You know you need nitrile gloves, but you see a huge price and quality difference. Choosing the wrong one based on price alone is a dangerous gamble. Let me explain what really matters.

The chemical resistance of nitrile gloves³ comes from their special material, a synthetic rubber made from acrylonitrile and butadiene. [aibonsafety.com] This structure is very effective against many chemicals. Standards like EN ISO 374-1:2016⁴ help classify gloves into types (A, B, or C) based on their performance.

When we talk about chemical resistance, we are really talking about how the glove’s material, this acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer⁵, stands up against hazardous substances. The combination of these two monomers is what gives nitrile its strength, flexibility, and resistance to oils, fuels, and other chemicals. [marketplace.safetyculture.com] But not all nitrile is created equal. The manufacturing process and quality of raw materials play a huge role. That’s where the EN 374 standard⁶ becomes so important for anyone sourcing PPE. It provides a clear, reliable testing framework. The standard classifies gloves into three main types, which helps match protection to the risk level.

Glove Type	Protection Level	Tested Against (Number of Chemicals)
Type A	High	Resists at least 6 chemicals for >30 mins
Type B	Medium	Resists at least 3 chemicals for >30 mins
Type C	Low	Resists at least 1 chemical for >10 mins

At BullSafety, I always guide my partners through this chart. We discuss whether their customers are handling a wide range of aggressive chemicals, which would require Type A gloves, or if their risk is lower and a Type B or C glove would be sufficient. It’s about finding the safest and most cost-effective solution.

What Is Breakthrough Time and Why Does It Matter?

Your glove looks perfectly fine after handling a chemical, but is it still safe? An invisible chemical could be seeping through, causing harm without you even knowing it. This is why breakthrough time is a concept you must understand.

Breakthrough time is the length of time it takes for a hazardous chemical to pass through the glove material on a molecular level and be detected on the inside. This is a critical safety rating from the permeation test (EN 16523-1)⁷ that tells you the maximum time you can safely wear the glove. [dplgroup.com]

Glove Breakthrough Time.

The official definition of breakthrough time⁸ is the time from the initial contact of the chemical on the glove’s surface until it’s detected on the other side. Think of it as a countdown timer for your safety. However, this is where my practical experience at BullSafety has taught me a vital lesson: lab results and real-world conditions⁹ are two different things. A glove might have a lab-tested breakthrough time of 60 minutes, but in a real workplace, that time can be much shorter. Factors like higher temperatures, greater chemical concentrations, and the pressure from gripping a tool can accelerate the process. A small scuff or abrasion on the glove can also drastically reduce its effective use time. This is why I always tell my partners to treat breakthrough times as a guide, not a guarantee. You must consider the specific work environment.

Here is how перformance levels are reported according to the EN 374 standard:

Performance Level	Breakthrough Time (minutes)
1	> 10
2	> 30
3	> 60
4	> 120
5	> 240
6	> 480

Always conduct an on-site risk assessment. It is the only way to ensure the glove you choose provides protection for the entire duration of the task.

What’s the Difference Between Degradation and Permeation?

Have your gloves ever become stiff, swollen, or cracked after use? This means their protective barrier is failing. Understanding the difference between this physical breakdown and invisible permeation is key to full protection.

Permeation is the unseen, molecular-level process of a chemical seeping through an intact glove. Degradation, on the other hand, is the visible, physical damage to the glove material itself—like swelling, hardening, or shrinking—after exposure to a chemical. [mapa-pro.com]

Glove Degradation.

I often use a simple analogy to explain this. Permeation is like a ghost slowly passing through a solid wall; you can’t see it happen, but the danger is real. Degradation is like the wall itself crumbling and breaking apart. Both processes compromise your safety, but in different ways. A glove can have a high resistance to permeation¹⁰ (a long breakthrough time) but still degrade quickly upon contact with a chemical. If a glove becomes stiff and brittle, it can easily tear, leading to direct exposure. The European standard EN 374-4 specifically tests¹¹ for degradation, and manufacturers must report these results in their user instructions. [dplgroup.com] This is a critical piece of data that I always encourage my partners to review carefully.

Here’s a table to make the distinction clear:

Feature	Permeation	Degradation
Process	Molecular movement through material	Physical change in material
Visibility	Invisible	Visible (swelling, hardening, etc.)
Test	EN 16523-1 (Breakthrough Time)	EN 374-4 (Change in properties)
Impact	Chemical contacts skin without warning	Glove loses strength and integrity

At BullSafety, we design our gloves to resist both. A glove that prevents permeation but falls apart during use doesn’t provide true safety. It’s a hidden liability. That’s why ensuring our gloves are robust against degradation is just as important as achieving long breakthrough times.

How Do Glove Thickness and Material Grade Affect Protection?

You need solid chemical protection, but you also need to be able to do your job. A bulky, thick glove can be clumsy, while a thin glove might not be safe. The key is finding the right balance of thickness and material quality.

Generally, a thicker glove¹² offers more resistance to chemicals and will have a longer breakthrough time. However, the quality of the nitrile material¹³ and the manufacturing process are just as crucial. A well-made, thinner glove can easily outperform a poorly constructed, thicker one.

Glove Thickness Measurement.

It’s a classic trade-off: protection versus dexterity. For delicate tasks like lab work, you need a thin, flexible glove that allows for fine motor control. But this often means changing gloves more frequently. For heavy-duty tasks, a thicker, more durable glove is necessary. However, "thickness" isn’t the only factor. What I call "material grade¹⁴" is just as important. This refers to the purity of the nitrile compound and the manufacturing consistency praised in testimonials from our partners. At BullSafety, our ISO9001 certification¹⁵ isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s a commitment to a process that ensures every glove has a consistent thickness from fingertip to cuff, with no weak spots. We don’t use cheap fillers that can compromise the glove’s integrity. As a long-term partner, my goal is to help wholesalers equip their customers properly. We discuss the specific applications—whether they need enhanced grip from a sandy nitrile coating for oily environments or extra cuff length for splash protection. It’s about delivering value and trust, not just a product.

Conclusion

Choosing the right nitrile glove requires looking beyond the price tag. You must understand the EN 374 standards—permeation, degradation, and breakthrough time—and always match the glove to the specific workplace hazards.

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