Disposable gloves – a selection guide
Which disposable gloves to choose and how do they differ from each other?
Various disposable gloves are available on the market. The most popular materials for making these are latex, nitrile and vinyl. In the guide, we will present you with all three types of gloves and the areas of use of only these.
1.) Disposable latex gloves
Latex gloves are still the first choice of consumers due to their comfort. Latex is a natural material that is obtained from the milky juice of the Hevea brasiliensis plant from the rubber family. After processing, only this is used as a production material in various industries. Latex is considered the most popular material for making disposable gloves, but it can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This prompted the development of latex-free disposable gloves. Nitrile and vinyl began to be used as alternative materials. On the market, we can find disposable latex gloves with powder, without powder, or for ease of use, the gloves only have a powdered edge or the cuff.
ADVANTAGES
- High level of protection;
- breathability (due to the natural material the hand breathes better);
- finger mobility and exceptional dexterity (the gloves were flexible);
- high tactile sensitivity (feeling "other skin") and comfort.
WEAKNESSES
- Possibility of allergic reactions;
- low resistance to damage or tearing of gloves.
AREAS OF USE
- medicine,
- patient care;
- dental medicine;
- veterinary medicine;
- pharmaceutical industry;
- beauty and cosmetic salons;
- contact with food;
- home crafts, etc.
Latex is a natural material and is biodegradable. This gives latex gloves an additional advantage over synthetic materials.
2.) Disposable nitrile gloves
Like latex gloves, nitrile gloves are very popular among consumers. Nitrile is a synthetic rubber (acrylonitrile butadiene rubber - NBR) produced from organic chemicals. At the end of the 1990s, it was developed as an alternative to latex, which until then was indispensable in many industries. Nitrile is used as a manufacturing material in all industries – automotive, aerospace, footwear, personal protective equipment and glove manufacturing. On the market, we can find disposable nitrile gloves with powder, without powder, or for ease of use, the gloves only have a powdered edge or the cuff.
ADVANTAGES
- Greater strength and durability;
- higher resistance to chemicals;
- resistance to strong fats and oils;
- resistance against microorganisms;
- high temperature resistance ( from -40 °C to +108 °C)
- they do not cause allergic reactions.
WEAKNESSES
- Low breathability of the glove;
- less flexibility or glove flexibility;
- made from artificial materials that are not biodegradable.
AREAS OF USE
- Food and food industry;
- automotive industry;
- chemical and oil industry;
- medicine;
- pharmaceutical industry;
- household.
The global popularity of nitrile gloves has increased significantly in recent years.
3.) Disposable vinyl gloves
Vinyl gloves are the most affordable. Vinyl is a synthetic material and one of the types of PVC (oil-based film). The main advantage of disposable vinyl gloves is the lower cost of raw materials compared to nitrile and latex. Although they are less durable than latex and nitrile gloves and offer very little protection against chemical or biomedical exposure, they are popular precisely because of their affordability.
ADVANTAGES
- Low price;
- high tactile sensitivity ("second skin" feeling);
- they do not cause allergic reactions.
WEAKNESSES
- Less elasticity;
- lower strength and durability;
- low resistance to chemicals;
- low resistance to strong fats and oils.
AREAS OF USE
- Food and food industry;
- household;
- medicine;
- veterinary medicine;
- beauty salons.
Vinyl gloves adhere less to the hand, are less elastic and provide less tactile sensitivity than latex or nitrile gloves. Work Foxx ofers a range of disposable gloves of a Mercator Medical brand.