Solvent breakthrough time on gloves...

General Composites Discussions Equipment Talk
#1

Hi Guys,

I go through cases of Liberty Duraskin blue nitrile gloves (2010wc) and have noticed that the last few cases have shorter and shorter solvent break through times with acetone. By the time you have the air nozzle cleaned out on a cup gun, the gloves have lost their finger tips.

I am curious if there are longer lasting brands that still have dexterity, or if the only choice is thicker gloves?

I go through a few drums of epoxy a year, and have been seeing some skin reactions from it… so I’m trying to find some things that make it a bit safer.

Thanks,

Zach

#2

The “grippy” Harbor Freight gloves have worked the best for me. So far I haven’t had any acetone break through the glove.

#3

There are also thin neoprene gloves. These SHOULD do the job.

I see a similar decrease in quality of both latex and nitrile gloves as well.

#4

Hey Zack
We use Cisco specials and put 3 pr on so you can peal of as needed. For our big layups we use a green nitrile glove that has flocking in it Airgas sells them in quan for about 1.25 per pair. They are cumbersome though so I only use for large jobs. The best ting I have sorted out is using vinegar for as much cleanup as possible. It will not eat the gloves and it is amazing how good it cleans up epoxy. We used to use a stuff called Clean Wiz @ about $18 per gal. Vs $2.5 for 2 gal at Costco.
Watch out on the gettin bad reactions around this stuff (epoxy etc) I have a friend who became so allergic to it that he has to wear gloves and a respirator just to walk out in the shop where he works and it sounds like he is going to cough up a lunge even with those precautions.

#5

NOT PVC!!!
tried those after our nitrile gloves ate away in a few minutes…almost instant melting!!!

#6

I’ve found latex gloves work quite well for acetone and epoxy. For nasty stuff we use the yellow dishwashing gloves, they cost about $1 a pair where as nitrile is like $5.

#7

Latex is permeable for both acetone and epoxy, so be careful with that. Dishwashing gloves are thicker latex.

Nitrile or neoprene is really the way to go. Be careful with your health.

#8

I always thought that latex was less permeable than nitrile, not sure where I had that thought arise, but it seems natural rubber is the way to go:
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/glovesbymaterial.html

You may also be experiencing reactions to latex. Latex reactions can just develop, even if you havent been allergic previously - there is a very high percentage of people allergic to latex apparently

#9

Nitrile FTW! I use surgical grade.