[labnetwork] Solvent Bench PPE

[Yakimov, Michael]

Katharine,

Thank you for bringing that up. Looks like NMP is in a process of being reevaluated, not unlike TMAH (and 2EE before that). Not as harshly as TCE, but we may brace for our safety departments getting the memo..

https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/risk-evaluation-n-methylpyrrolidone-nmp-0
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230023000053

With that,  another question you may want to look at is - what is the role of gloves when working with solvents? .

Breakthrough times for solvents for gloves are measured in minutes. I didn't see consistent datasets, but I heard acetone is 10-30 minutes on thin nitrile. (some handwaving about nitrile vs acetone-soluble ABS is removed). I certainly got photoresist smell off my hands after taking off some completely intact blue nitrile golves before.
 I do see a reference for 2 minutes breakthrough on thin nitrile for NMP in California, but I would take that with a grain of salt outside of CA.
But this might give you a flavor of how reliable things are. Looks like not very:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/185552

My impression is that gloves, even fancy ones, are not a real protection against solvents in most cases. But in a cleanroom environment, they are the way to remove contamination mechanically should it land on the glove. So it may be that best glove is a cheap glove which people are willing to through away, rather than save for long time and/or reuse...

Just a thought

Mike






_______________________________________________

Michael Yakimov

Research scientist

Department  of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

University at Albany - State University of NY



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Albany NY 12203



Phone: 518-437-8609 lab

e-mail: myakimov at albany.edu<mailto:myakimov at albany.edu>










________________________________
From: labnetwork <labnetwork-bounces at mtl.mit.edu> on behalf of Katharine Beach <beach at umich.edu>
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2026 9:22 AM
To: labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu <labnetwork at mtl.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: [labnetwork] Solvent Bench PPE

Thank you to everyone who responded. This information is very helpful. Reading over the responses has led me to a second question.

Do you use NMP based solvents or PRS-2000 in your wet processes/solvent benches? If so, does this affect the required PPE? I ask because these chemicals have a Health Hazard level 2 and 3 respectively vs level 1 for Acetone and IPA. Some lab PPE requirements I was sent have qualifiers based on what solvents are used.

Thanks,
Katharine

On Tue, Aug 11, 2026 at 8:28 AM Katharine Beach <beach at umich.edu<mailto:beach at umich.edu>> wrote:
Greetings,

At the LNF we are evaluating our Solvent Bench PPE requirements. I've been tasked with comparing our current PPE requirements with that of our peers'. If you would be so kind as to share links to this information, or just your requirements that would be greatly appreciated.

Our current requirements are to wear your safety glasses, these should alway be on in the Cleanroom, and a pair of polychloroprene gloves in addition to the base nitrile gloves.

Thanks you,
Katharine Beach


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Katharine Beach

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University of Michigan

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