There are lots of disposable glove options, but nitrile is the most popular. Read here to learn some of the benefits of using nitrile gloves.
Are you in search for the most suitable disposable glove for your work? When it comes to disposable protective gloves, latex has been the top choice of medical professionals for many decades. But that is about to change! There has been a recent shift towards new materials that are up to 95% stronger and safer.
Although medical professionals, tattoo artists, and mechanics have shown a clear preference towards latex gloves in the past, the danger of latex allergies and low chemical protection it offered left much to be desired. These disadvantages have pushed rubber technology to create new synthetic compounds that are superior to latex. One of the most promising of these contestants is Nitrile!
What Makes Nitrile so Great?
Nitrile, also known by the charming name of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene rubber, is a synthetic type of rubber that has been used for disposable gloves since the mid-1990’s. These gloves were first marketed to medical professionals, with a special focus on dentists because of their great puncture resistance. Nitrile is three times more puncture resistant than latex, which helps prevent contamination and accidents. Since then, mechanics, tattoo artists, and many industrial workers have also started using nitrile gloves, because of the superior chemical resistance of this material.
Nitrile will protect your hands from solvents, oils, greases and even some acids and bases.
In short, professionals worldwide started using nitrile gloves because of their:
- High Puncture Resistance
- Low Allergic Reaction Rates (>1%)
- High Heat Resistance
- Great Chemical Resistance
- Comfortable Fit
Their strength makes these gloves ideal to be used more than once, despite being disposable and cheap. Nitrile prices used to be high, but the extreme demand these days have dropped the price to the point that they are now very affordable.
A Safer Choice for Those Suffering from Latex Allergies
Latex allergies are the most serious disadvantage of latex gloves. Symptoms can vary from mild rashes to anaphylactic shock, which can prove fatal in rare cases. Even if you personally aren’t allergic to it, you can cause an allergic reaction to anyone you touch with them, including patients and clients in general. It comes as no surprise that latex allergies were, in fact, the main reason why so many professionals shifted towards vinyl and nitrile gloves.
Nitrile, being a synthetic rubber and containing no latex at all, is an ideal alternative if you’re allergic to latex or if you worry about your clients having a latex allergy. Nitrile gloves have a snug and comfortable fit, comparable to that of latex, making it easy and pleasant to work with them on for a long period of time. Also, the low friction coefficient of nitrile gloves makes them easy to take on and off. On top of that, quality nitrile gloves have a slip-resistant finish that offers you a firm grip even when your gloves get wet. This makes them a very safe choice for dentists.
And this is just the beginning. Nitrile still has more to offer you…
Superior Puncture and Chemical Resistance
Do you have to worry about pathogens and chemical contamination in your line of work? If so, nitrile gloves are once again the winning choice. The superior puncture resistance has made these gloves a favorite of medical professionals (especially dentists) and tattoo artists worldwide, due to the high dangers of punctures and contamination in those fields. Nitrile can be up to three times stronger than latex, protecting you from needles and other sharp objects. One more great benefit to nitrile is that once it is punctured the material tears, making it very obvious that the glove should be changed immediately. Latex gloves may hide a puncture because the elastic material can conceal the breach, which can increase the danger of contamination if the gloves aren’t changed immediately. Mechanics and other professionals using heavy chemicals, oils, and greases, prefer nitrile gloves for their great durability and the safety they provide. After all, Nitrile has much higher chemical resistance than latex or vinyl.
Great Temperature and Water Resistance
Nitrile, just like latex and vinyl, is a waterproof substance, so you can work without having to worry about your gloves getting soaked and weakening. You can wear nitrile gloves under work gloves to make your hands waterproof any time it is needed. Nitrile can withstands a temperature range of −40 to 108 °C (−40 to 226 °F), making them ideal for professions where you have to touch hot or cold surfaces. This is why in many industries nitrile gloves are the preferred choice by far since they offer protection from sudden heat or cold without melting or becoming brittle.
Affordable and Durable
Price is a serious concern since you’ll be going through many pairs of gloves every month. Nitrile used to be more expensive than latex when it first was introduced, but thankfully the prices are now so low that they have become the top choice. Not only can you buy your nitrile gloves at a cheaper price, they also last longer. Despite being disposable gloves, the durability of nitrile lets you use them more than once if needed. Also, the long shelf life of nitrile ensures that your gloves are still safe to use even if you buy them in bulk. Buying your gloves in large quantities will make purchasing them even cheaper, so you have a win-win situation here.
Nitrile vs Latex: The Verdict
The greatest advantage of latex is comfort. Even though nitrile has come a long way since it first was introduced, latex gloves are still generally more comfortable than nitrile ones.
Other than that though, nitrile is:
- Up to three times more puncture resistant than latex.
- Safer than latex, because it does not cause latex allergies.
- More chemical resistant.
In the end, it comes as no surprise that Nitrile gloves have steadily become the favorite disposable gloves, preferred by medical professionals, tattoo artists, mechanics, industrial workers and much more worldwide.
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