Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant? | Glove Guide NZ
Are PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?
Are PU coated gloves chemical resistant?
It's an important question, particularly when gloves are being selected for cleaning, maintenance, manufacturing or industrial workplaces.
The short answer is:
You should not assume that PU coated gloves are chemical resistant simply because they have a polyurethane coating.
PU coated gloves are commonly designed for general handling tasks, where grip, dexterity, flexibility and comfort are important.
If you're working with cleaning chemicals, solvents or other chemical substances, you need to select a glove specifically suited to the chemical and the type of exposure involved.
Let's look at the difference.
What Are PU Coated Gloves?
PU stands for polyurethane.
A typical PU coated work glove combines a knitted fabric liner with a polyurethane coating, generally over the palm and fingers.
This construction can provide an excellent combination of:
- Grip
- Dexterity
- Flexibility
- Comfort
- Breathability
- Durability
These characteristics make PU coated gloves particularly useful for general handling and precision work.
Common applications can include:
- Warehousing
- Picking and packing
- Assembly
- Manufacturing
- Light engineering
- Inspection work
- Maintenance
- Handling small components
- General workplace handling
However, a polyurethane coating shouldn't automatically be interpreted as providing chemical protection.
Does Polyurethane Coating Make a Glove Chemical Resistant?
Not necessarily.
A coating can change the performance characteristics of a glove, but the fact that a glove is coated doesn't tell you that it provides appropriate protection against a particular chemical.
Chemical protection is much more specific than that.
The suitability of a glove can depend on factors including:
- The chemical being handled
- Chemical concentration
- Length of exposure
- Frequency of exposure
- Whether contact involves splashes or prolonged exposure
- Glove material and construction
- Manufacturer's specifications and testing
That's why choosing chemical-resistant gloves shouldn't be based simply on whether a glove is described as PU, nitrile, latex or another material.
Are Bastion Messina PU Coated Gloves Chemical Resistant?
The Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves supplied by Hygiene Direct are designed as general handling gloves.
They feature a 13-gauge nylon construction with a grey polyurethane coating and are designed for applications requiring flexibility and dexterity.
They are particularly suited to tasks such as general handling, warehousing, picking and packing, assembly and other precision work.
We do not recommend selecting the Bastion Messina as a chemical-resistant glove.
If chemical resistance is required, choose a glove specifically suited to the chemical and application involved.
What Gloves Should You Use for Cleaning Chemicals?
There isn't a single glove that's suitable for every cleaning chemical.
Commercial cleaning products can have very different formulations, concentrations and hazards.
For example, a workplace may use:
- General-purpose cleaners
- Degreasers
- Disinfectants
- Toilet and bathroom cleaners
- Chlorine-based products
- Acidic cleaners
- Alkaline cleaners
- Solvents
- Specialist industrial chemicals
The appropriate glove for one product may not necessarily be appropriate for another.
That's why the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the chemical is an important place to start.
The SDS contains information about hazards, safe handling and recommended personal protective equipment.
Does Nitrile Mean Chemical Resistant?
This is another area where it's important not to generalise.
Nitrile gloves are commonly used across cleaning, industrial and commercial environments, and some nitrile gloves can provide resistance to particular chemicals.
However:
You shouldn't assume that every nitrile glove is suitable for every chemical.
Disposable nitrile gloves vary in thickness, construction, intended application and performance.
Chemical suitability can also vary according to the particular substance and concentration involved.
So simply changing from a PU coated glove to "a nitrile glove" isn't necessarily enough.
The specific glove needs to be suitable for the specific application.
Disposable Gloves vs Chemical-Resistant Gloves
The terms disposable glove and chemical-resistant glove don't mean the same thing.
A disposable glove may provide a useful barrier for certain tasks without being designed for prolonged chemical exposure.
Likewise, specialist chemical-resistant gloves may be substantially thicker and designed very differently from disposable examination-style gloves.
When chemical exposure is a genuine workplace hazard, glove selection should be based on the protection required rather than convenience alone.
What Should You Check Before Choosing Gloves for Chemicals?
Before selecting gloves for chemical handling, consider:
1. What chemical is being used?
Identify the actual product rather than simply describing it as a "cleaning chemical".
2. What does the SDS recommend?
Check the Safety Data Sheet for PPE and safe-handling information.
3. What type of contact is expected?
Occasional splash exposure can be very different from prolonged or repeated contact.
4. What does the glove manufacturer specify?
Check whether the particular glove has been tested or recommended for the substance involved.
5. What other hazards are present?
The job may involve mechanical hazards as well as chemicals, which could affect the type of glove required.
When Should You Use PU Coated Gloves?
None of this means PU coated gloves aren't useful workplace gloves.
They simply perform a different job.
For general handling applications where chemical protection isn't required, a lightweight PU coated glove can provide an excellent combination of comfort, grip and dexterity.
Consider them for applications such as:
- Warehouse picking
- Packing orders
- Handling cartons
- Assembly work
- Handling components
- General manufacturing
- Inspection work
- Light engineering
- General maintenance
For these applications, the ability to comfortably grip and manipulate objects may be considerably more important than providing a chemical barrier.
Choosing the Right Glove for the Job
The most important principle when selecting workplace gloves is simple:
Match the glove to the task and the hazard.
Don't choose a PU coated glove for chemical handling simply because it has a coating.
Don't choose a disposable nitrile glove for every job simply because nitrile is associated with chemical resistance.
And don't use unnecessarily heavy protective gloves for straightforward precision handling if they make it difficult for employees to perform their work.
Understanding what the employee is actually doing is the best starting point.
Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves
For businesses requiring a lightweight reusable glove for general handling and precision tasks, Hygiene Direct supplies Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves.
Features include:
- 13-gauge nylon construction
- Grey polyurethane coating
- Lightweight and breathable design
- Snug fit
- Good flexibility and dexterity
- Colour-coded wrist bands
- Sizes Small through XX-Large
They're particularly suited to warehousing, distribution, picking and packing, assembly, manufacturing, light engineering and other general handling applications.
Shop Bastion Messina Nylon PU Coated Gloves
Hygiene Direct also supplies a range of industrial gloves and nitrile gloves for different workplace applications.
If you're unsure which glove is appropriate for the chemical or task you're dealing with, contact Hygiene Direct and our team can help you identify a suitable option.
Related Articles
- What Are PU Coated Gloves? A Guide to Polyurethane Work Gloves
- How to Choose the Right Gloves for General Handling Work
- PU Coated Gloves vs Nitrile Gloves: What's the Difference?
- Best Gloves for Warehousing, Picking, Packing & Assembly Work