The Chemical Abstract Services identification numbers provide unique identifiers for easy cross-reference to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Some chemicals are known by several widely used names. Some well known synonyms appear in this guide and have the same CAS Number.
The European “Guide to Classification and Marking of Hazardous Substances” established a labeling ordinance so that anyone handling a hazardous product knows the health risks. Hazardous products can cause injuries from inhalation, ingestion or skin contact after even a single exposure or from prolonged or repeated exposure. Based on toxicity information, the categories are: Most toxicity ratings are based on inhalation or oral routes of chemical exposure. The European Toxicity Risk Code is based on dermal exposure to chemicals. Gloves provide protection from dermal exposure to chemicals. Other items of Personal Protective Equipment protect from other routes of chemical exposure.
Degradation is the physical change in a glove after chemical exposure. Typical effects may be swelling, wrinkling, deterioration, or delamination. There are no accepted standards for measuring degradation. Best degradation testing is based on a protocol considered by the ASTM F23 Protective Clothing Committee. One side of the glove material is exposed to the test chemical for four hours. The percent weight change is measured at four time intervals: 5, 30, 60 and 240 minutes. The gravimetric ratings are ranked as shown below. Key RatingWeight Change E Excellent0-10% G Good11-20% F Fair21-30% P Poor31-50% NR Not RecommendedAbove 50% Where degradation rating is poor (P) or not recommended (NR) after 60 minutes, the material is not tested for permeation resistance. Permeation results are listed as not recommended (NR) because of severe degradation. WARNING: Weight change is only our measure of degradation and does not account for certain physical changes such as hardening of PVC.
EN 374 Ratings Rating Description 0 10 minutes breakthrough time; Dangerous selection 1 > 10 minutes breakthrough time;Very poor; Splashes only; change quickly 2 > 30 minutes breakthrough time; Poor choice; change quickly when exposed 3 > 60 minutes breakthrough time; Sometimes satisfactory; change soon after exposure . 4 > 120 minutes breakthrough time; Good selection; change after 2 hours. 5 > 240 minutes breakthrough time; Next best selection; change after 4 hours. 6 > 480 minutes breakthrough time; Safest best selection with highest rating attainable.
Cut Resistance Ratings Rating Description 0 < 200 grams of weight needed to cut through material with 25 mm of blade travel 1 > 200 grams of weight needed to cut through material with 25 mm of blade travel 2 > 500 grams of weight needed to cut through material with 25 mm of blade travel 3 > 1000 grams of weight needed to cut through material with 25 mm of blade travel 4 > 1500 grams of weight needed to cut through material with 25 mm of blade travel 5 > 3000 grams of weight needed to cut through material with 25 mm of blade travel
Puncture Ratings Rating Description 0 < 10 Newtons of Force to Puncture 1 > 10 Newtons of Force to Puncture 2 > 20 Newtons of Force to Puncture 3 < 60 Newtons of Force to Puncture 4 < 100 Newtons of Force to Puncture 5 < 150 Newtons of Force to Puncture
Abrasion Ratings Rating Description 0 < 100 Abrasion cycles to fail (500 gram load) 1 > 100 Abrasion cycles to fail (500 gram load) 2 > 500 Abrasion cycles to fail (500 gram load) 3 < 1000 Abrasion cycles to fail (500 gram load) 4 < 3000 Abrasion cycles to fail (1000 gram load) 5 < 10,000 Abrasion cycles to fail (1000 gram load) 6 > 20,000 Abrasion cycles to fail (1000 gram load)