There are many different brands and styles of disposable gloves available on the market today. Medical, restaurant, and hotel use are just some of the many places where nitrile disposable gloves are among the most common. When compared to other types of gloves, such as vinyl or latex, why would someone opt for disposable nitrile gloves instead?
Nitrile Characteristics
Often known as “nitrile rubber,” “nitrile,” or simply “nitrile,” acrylonitrile butadiene rubber is the general name for this material. Nitrile, a type of synthetic rubber, is made up entirely of nitrogen. When it comes to gasoline handling equipment like hoses and tanks, nitrile has long been the material of choice for seals, grommets, and O-rings. Its initial purpose lay in the field of aviation. Several companies quickly realised that this synthetic rubber would make a great disposable glove material due to its many desirable characteristics. Nitrile gloves have a higher chemical resistance than latex gloves, thus they last longer when exposed to oils, chemicals, acids, or body fluids. This is due to the improved longevity of the gloves.
Nitrile gloves’ benefits
When compared to latex gloves, nitrile gloves have a variety of advantages.
Protection from disease and increased longevity
Nitrile isn’t as pliable as natural rubber, so nitrile gloves won’t provide you quite as much dexterity as latex ones. But, nitrile is around three to five times more puncture resistant than latex, so you may keep using them for longer if need be. Dexterity is reduced while using nitrile gloves instead of latex ones. These qualities make them an excellent option for usage in healthcare and medical environments, where they go by names like “exam gloves” and “surgery gloves.” Surgical gloves are designed to protect the wearer’s hands from potential contamination by blood-borne pathogens.
Possessing both hypoallergenic and relaxing properties
Nitrile is a popular choice for disposable gloves because of its high resistance to chemicals and punctures, its comfortable fit, and the fact that it contains no latex. These gloves are so comfortable to wear that even workers with latex allergies can use them for their whole shifts. They aren’t constructed with latex, therefore they’re safer.
In exceedingly rare cases, nitrile gloves have been linked to allergic responses in certain users. Allergic contact dermatitis, a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction, is the most typical manifestation of this condition. Glove powder (used to absorb sweat and facilitate donning and doffing) and sulfur-based accelerants (used to improve the gloves’ flexibility) are two common examples of additives that might trigger an allergic reaction.
Using nitrile gloves that do not have powder or accelerators will keep you from ever having to deal with these issues. You should nevertheless take measures because of the risk, even if these symptoms are far milder than those of a typical latex allergy.
Different uses call for different cuff lengths.
The cuffs of nitrile gloves can be cut to fit a variety of needs. Gloves with short cuffs are the most versatile and practical for everyday use. Long-cuffed types, ranging in length from 8 inches to 12 inches, provide protection against pathogens from the fingertips up to the forearms, making them excellent for long-term surgical applications or any situation in which there is a high danger of blood projection.