As of October 25, 2001, the United States Postal Service has purchased 86 million pairs of gloves made of vinyl and Nitrile, a high-grade industrial plastic, to supply 3 pairs per employee per day throughout the nation. Forty-four million pairs have been shipped.
Nitrile NBR Rubber
Chemical Designation: Butadiene Acrylonitrile (NBR)
In addition to its resistance to petroleum oils and aromatic hydrocarbons, NBR is highly resistant to mineral oils, vegetable oils, and many acids. It also has good elongation properties as well as adequate resilience, tensile and compression set.
Because of its cost, this elastomer is not usually recommended for applications where oil resistance is not a major problem. Where oil resistance is required, the cost is more than justifiable. Generally attacked by ozone, ketones, esters, aldehydes, chlorinated and nitro hydrocarbons.
Brookhaven National Laboratory table of chemicals and the appropriate disposable gloves:
| Chemical | Glove | Comments |
| 1,1,1, Trichloroethane | No disposable recommended | Silvershield, K-63187 |
| 1,1,2 Trichlorotrifluoroethane | Nitrile | |
| Acetone | Latex | Silvershield for prolonged contact – K-63187 |
| Antifreeze | Latex or Nitrile | |
| CTD 101 Part A, B | Latex | |
| Diethylenetriamine | No disposable recommended | Butyl – outside order |
| Dykem remover | No gloves needed | |
| Enplate Cu-872A,B, and NI-429M | Latex | |
| Epon V-40 | Nitrile | |
| Epoxy resin | Latex | |
| Ethyl alcohol - ethanol | Nitrile | |
| Ethylene | Nitrile | |
| FC-40 Fluorinert | No gloves needed | |
| Gasoline | Nitrile | |
| Glyptal insulating varnish | Nitrile | |
| Hydrochloric acid | Nitrile | |
| Hysol Hardener, resin epoxy | Nitrile | |
| Isopropyl alcohol | Nitrile | |
| Kerosene | Nitrile | |
| Layout fluid remover | Nitrile | |
| Mercury | latex (preferred), vinyl (acceptable) | Incidental contact only |
| Methyl Alcohol - methanol | Nitrile | |
| Nokorode | Latex or nitrile | |
| PF degreaser | No gloves needed | |
| Presolve | No gloves needed for spray can, nitrile for bulk | |
| Propyl alcohol - Propanol | Nitrile | |
| Rez-N-Bond, Rez-N-Glue | Polyethylene | |
| RTV102 Silicone Adhesive Sealant | Cloth | |
| Rust Inhibitor Heavy Duty | No gloves needed | |
| Sauereisen Thinning Liquid | Latex | |
| Sodium Bicarbonate | Either latex or nitrile | |
| Sodium Hydroxide | No disposable recommened | Neoprene, K-63180, K-62540 |
| Sulfuric Acid | No disposable recommended | Silvershield K-63187 |
| Sylgard 182, 184, | No gloves needed | |
| Toluene | Nitrile | |
| Toolmaker's Ink Remover | Polyethylene | |
| Tungsten Oxides | Latex | Vinyl Gloves Acceptable in Lieu of Laytex |
| Xylene | Nitrile | |
| Zep Formula 50 | Nitrile | |
| Zep 55 | No disposable recommended | Silvershield K-63187 |
| Zepride E degreaser | Either latex or nitrile |