epoxy permeates through latex gloves?

[Hugh M.]

I have noticed that my hands smell of epoxy long after removing my latex gloves. Anyone else noticed this? Would a barrier cream work, double the gloves or use nitrile?
Is it a problem?
Thanks!
-Hugh

[Rick Tyler]

I use latex gloves for epoxy and haven't ever smelled epoxy on my hands. The latex smell, however, really lingers.

I don't know if this makes any difference or not, but I usually use latex gloves from a pharmacy instead of the "one size doesn't fit me" kind from the home center. Latex gloves sold through the drug store channel come in different sizes. I wonder if they are a little thicker? I know they don't tear as easily as the ones I used to get from Home Depot.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Are you absolutely sure that they are Latex?
Many of the better suppliers have switched to silicone rubber - and will supply this if asked for either latex or rubber.

[Thorne]

Yeah, try different gloves! This could be like the old jokes about the nun and....never mind.

;- )

Also, plain old cheap vinegar is wonderful for cleaning up fresh epoxy on tools, gloves and bare hands -- your hands will smell like a salad but that's better than smelling like latex rubber.

[Graham Knight]

Latex is porous, I read somewhere that you can still leave fingerprints wearing latex gloves, blow up a latex balloon and it will deflate as the air escapes right through the rubber. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that some elements of epoxy can also pass through it.
Polythene gloves are better, I have to use them as I'm allergic to latex, but I wear thin cotton gloves underneath to make them more comfortable.

[StevenBauer]

I use the nitrile ones. About $10 for a box of 100 at the medical supply place.

Steven

[JeffH]

'Taint the resin that is the problem, but the hardener. Anime hardeners are very alkaline (hence the "Corrosive!" markers on the packaging). I've heard that latex is useless for protection against most epoxy hardeners as it is too pourous to block the chemicals. Indeed, a little googling finds this (from a society of dermatologists):


In the workplace try to avoid exposure to epoxy resins, however this may not be practicable. Identify potential sources of exposure using Material Safety Data Sheets; these are required for all chemicals and substances that you may come into contact with in the workplace. To reduce exposure, use special gloves (nitrile rubber or nitrile butatoluene gloves) to protect the hands. Rubber gloves do not help as the resin penetrates through the glove in 30 seconds. Vinyl and neoprene rubber are not totally protective. So, your latex gloves are protecting you for 30 seconds. Also, it seems hardeners are found to be still active up to a week after mixing a batch. After a week, the cured epoxy/hardener concoction is basically inert and harmless, save any irritation from sanding dust.

Protect yourself. Epoxy is nasty, nasty stuff. Ask any of my friends who have become sensitized...

Jeff

[Rick Tyler]

Originally posted by JeffH:
[QB] </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> (...) Vinyl and neoprene rubber are not totally protective. So, your latex gloves are protecting you for 30 seconds. (...)
[QB]</font>[/QUOTE]From the Material Safety Datasheet from System Three's general-purpose marine epoxy:

"SECTION VIII - SPECIAL PROTECTION INFORMATION

"Respiratory Protection: Normally none is required when adequate ventilation is provided. In the absence of proper environmental control NIOSH approved respiratory is required. For emergencies, a self-contained breathing apparatus or full-faced respirator is recommended.

"Ventilation: Provide adequate ventilation in work areas. Confine material in sealed containers when not in use.

"Hand Protection: Always wear impervious gloves, neoprene, vinyl or rubber."

System Three says rubber gloves are OK. FWIW, I've never had any liquid or other signs of epoxy on my hands under latex gloves.

[Hugh M.]

Thanks to those who responded. The smell is definetly that of the hardner - not latex. The gloves should be good ones - they are from Jamestown.

Incidently, I tried the vinegar trick - worked some, but smell was still noticable.

I'll switch to nitrile.

[pjwalsh]

Definitely use the nitrile,

I have slung a lot of epoxy and paint in various boatyards and garages over the years and nitrile was always the standard glove.

I work in a research laboratory now with epoxies and much worse - if the environmental health and safety people come in and see latex gloves around the lab they first throw a fit then a lecture about how latex gloves do not even effectively keep water out and follow with the threat of a fine if they see latex again.

As a previous poster noted it is not the resin that is a problem - the bisphenol-A molecules that most resin is based on are large and slow to diffuse through anything. Not terribly toxic either though I would avoid skin contact as the epoxide end groups are quite reactive. The hardener however is some mixture of aliphatic and/or aromatic amines - these are smaller, relatively faster moving and more toxic.

[Dave Gray]

Very good post, thanks for the information. While I knew about nitrile suits, I thought latex gloves would be OK even though I have long suspected they really weren't doing the job I hoped they would be doing. Dripping wet hands after 10 minutes (even cold weather) and a feeling like epoxy goop was permeating through the gloves... Looks like nitrile is in my future.

[capt jake]

Hugh, you are not gonna get off without an update photo or two. You have to show us what that epoxy smell is really from! smile.gif