Nitrile rubber is a synthetic copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. This resilient material has good resistance to a variety of chemicals including fuels, oils, and acids, and it is able to withstand a range of temperatures from -40 to 108 °C (-40 to 226 °F).
Gloves made from nitrile are often used as an alternative to natural rubber latex to reduce allergy risk, as nitrile does not contain latex proteins. In comparison to latex, nitrile is more resistant to oils and acids and has superior puncture resistance, but it is also less flexible. Nitrile gloves are typically manufactured using chemicals known as accelerators, and residues of these chemicals may cause sensitisation in some users – in these cases, an accelerator-free nitrile or vinyl glove may be a suitable alternative.