Nitrile Vs Latex Coated Gloves: Which Is Best?

Coated gloves, often called “dipped gloves”, refer to gloves that have been coated in a waterproof rubber material through a dipping process. This thin rubber coating makes the gloves strong and flexible while providing extra protection. Choosing the right pair of coated gloves is crucial to ensure safety, durability, and comfort while doing Industrial work and intensive manual labor

The coating used itself provides excellent grip and water resistance that will prevent slip-ups that could cause workplace accidents. The coating also covers the glove fabric and seams so that they don’t wear out or split easily because of touch work conditions. You can select coated gloves with added insulation against heat or cold environments according to your needs. The level of dexterity offered also varies.

In this blog you can find information about the key features that must be considered when choosing the correct work gloves for your industry. We will look at the information about nitrile and latex coatings, safety standards around work gloves, durability, affordability, and more so you utilize it to the fullest while ensuring high performance. The right pair is a safety investment that no demanding job should overlook.

Construction of Coated Gloves

Coated gloves have a specialized anatomy resulting from the dipping or coating manufacturing process that sets them apart from regular fabric or uncoated disposable gloves. The different structures and materials of coating make these gloves suitable for heavy-duty applications in industries like construction, manufacturing, restoration work, and more.

Most gloves feature two key layers - the fabric layer that comprises the main body, and the outside coating covering the glove surface completely. The fabric layer is often made of 13 to 15 gauge seamless knit nylon or polyester providing cut-resistance while maintaining finger dexterity. Finally, the exterior coating is either made using latex, nitrile, neoprene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) dipping formulations, sometimes blended with acrylic or silicone emulsions through proprietary techniques.

This forms a 3 to 5 mil coating that protects the liner and boosts waterproofing, grip, chemical handling abilities, and thermal insulation as per specialty requirement. The coating holds together the fabric layer and supports the entire gloves structure. The result is a sturdy yet flexible glove reinforced externally while keeping the interior fabric breathable and quick-drying despite extensive coating.

Some work gloves comes with an optional layer called the interior liner that sits inside the main fabric layer of the glove. Common materials for interior liners include nylon, cotton flocking or brushed polyester for comfort.

Manufacturing Process

The production of high-performance coated work gloves is a complex multi-step procedure tailored to deposit resilient, seamless coatings on fabric glove liners. It starts by assembling glove shells through stitching the durable outer fabric layer into an uncoated foundation achieving the desired fit and dexterity. These glove shells then undergo surface preparation before being dipped into liquid coating formulations based on materials like nitrile or latex. As each glove is lowered and removed from coagulant baths and coating dip tanks in sequence, the coating builds layer by layer reaching targeted thickness. Multiple quick dipping cycles are coordinated with drying and heating cure stages between each coating application to set the film, bond it to fabric layers and remove solution additives gradually hardening the gloves. Strict quality checks follow to examine aspects like visual defects, texture, resilience, and dimensional accuracy ensuring high protection, flexibility, and safety across production batches.

Coated Work Gloves Safety Standards

Globally recognized safety agencies have developed rigorous standards that specify quality benchmarks for key performance aspects of coated protective gloves from abrasion endurance, and cut resistance to chemical handling abilities. By ensuring certified compliance as per international standards, manufacturers guarantee their coated gloves offer adequate user defense across working environments. This third-party testing ensures minimum durability, dexterity, and material integrity requirements. And quality consistency allows organizations to better equip employees without risking injury or ecosystem contamination. Published safety ratings also help end-users compare products and opt for apt protection levels suited to their glove usage needs. Compliance adds credibility reassuring employers that every safety-marked coated glove provides an elevated degree of construction resilience, fingertip sensitivity, and lasting defense which makes worker hand protection efficient and trustworthy.

About Nitrile Coated Gloves

Nitrile-coated gloves are cotton or polyester gloves that have additional coating added to the surface. All five fingers and the palm area of these work gloves are covered with a coating. This coating - Nitrile polymer coating, provides extra protection while retaining flexibility. It acts as an extra layer of protection against cuts, abrasions, snags, chemicals and oils. Additonally, it also has good dexterity, grip, and durability suitable for all kinds of heavy-duty work.

When choosing nitrile-coated gloves, some key characteristics make them suitable for specialized applications:

Durability: The nitrile coating enables excellent puncture resistance and longer product life under demanding industrial conditions involving sharp objects or abrasive materials.

Flexibility: Unlike natural rubber latex, coated nitrile gloves stretch to conform to hand movements so dexterity is not compromised.

Chemical Resistance: Nitrile coating takes these gloves up a notch as it is resistant to oils, greases, fuels, and other strong solvents depending on the thickness, allowing safe handling.

Allergen-free: For those with latex sensitivity, nitrile coated gloves prevent skin irritation.

Nitrile-coated gloves can be used for automotive repair, construction work, waste management, inspection and cleaning, painting, and spray operations. For jobs with high-exposure activities, high performance and chemical resistant gloves will provide added defense.

About Latex Coated Gloves

Latex-coated gloves refer to gloves that have an additional exterior coating with an additional layer of latex to enhance durability. Natural rubber latex is derived from the sap produced by rubber trees. They are most suitable for all work environment, it has great fit, feel, and finger dexterity.

When choosing latex-coated gloves, some key characteristics make them suitable for specialized applications:

Natural Elasticity: The latex coating on these gloves gives you great tactile awareness and lets it stretch then return to a comfortable fit that doesn't make you uncomfortable during work. It can be reused without compromising dexterity.

Comfort: The lightweight latex layer makes the gloves breathable and does not impact flexibility or add bulk. This boosts comfort and wrist support.

Grip Strength: Latex material offers outstanding dry and wet grip so products or equipment do not easily slip out of the hand. The coating also provides abrasion protection.

Allergy Concerns: There is a protein in natural rubber that can make some people allergic.

Latex-coated gloves are suitable for industries like construction, metal fabrication, utilities, and waste management.

Chemical Resistance

When selecting coated gloves for chemical handling applications, two key aspects determine how effectively the glove resists permeation during usage - the coating material itself and its thickness. Nitrile coatings exhibit superior resistance to petroleum products like gasoline and oils as well as some solvents, acids, and alcohols, making nitrile-coated gloves perfect for automotive repair or waste chemical cleanup applications. Latex-coated gloves have better resilience to caustics like bleach and alkalis thanks to the natural rubber latex base. Though both materials resist aqueous solutions moderately, thicker coatings proportionally enhance breakthrough times across chemicals.

Real-world examples highlight the importance of glove chemical compatibility - be it an electrician risking high voltage safety due to petroleum-based transformer oils degrading natural rubber or sanitation workers avoiding chemical burns by selecting a 14 mil thick nitrile coating. Proper hand protection means preparedness and accident prevention. Leading glove standards also mandate chemical resistance testing for certification. This data empowers glove selection as a first line of defense across chemical handling sectors like pharmaceuticals, janitorial services to even processed food manufacturing prone to organic solvents and cleaning agents especially where user sensitivity arises.

Significance of Allergen-Free Gloves

Latex coated gloves contain natural rubber proteins that can trigger severe allergic reactions upon skin contact or inhalation. This poses grave risks for sensitized wearers causing rashes, respiratory distress or even life-threatening anaphylaxis. With latex allergy rates increasing worldwide, many industries have transitioned to nitrile coated gloves as an allergen-free synthetic alternative to protect patients and healthcare workers. Formulated using acrylonitrile and carboxylic acids rather than plant materials, nitrile coated gloves provide equivalent durability and superior chemical resistance without the allergy hazards. Because of the hypoallergenic properties in nitrile cated gloves, it makes the most suitable solution for people with allergies and also upholding safety at work.

Protection Against Punctures & Tears

Coated gloves are a vital barrier against skin exposure to hazards and sharp tools or debris that cause tear and infection risks during repair work, construction, and waste handling among high-impact sectors. Extra defense comes from external PVC, polyurethane, nitrile, or rubber coatings that provide density and thickness to absorb and avoid cuts from glass, metals, or power tools compared to fabric gloves. When assessing glove durability in physically demanding jobs, nitrile coatings often display greater resilience to punctures from needles or tears from jagged edges than thinner latex coats. Abrasion testing using standardized blades or drill weights also examines this resistance. The outcome determines the glove thickness and material construction needed to match workplace activities, be it handling fiberglass insulation or using welding machinery prone to molten sparks. The right durability against punctures or tears prevents bleeding and dangerous substance absorption through compromised gloves.

Affordability

Affordability plays an important role in protective glove selection for industries employing large workforces. When advising on efficient budget allocations, key differences emerge between materials with latex coats rating as the more affordable option together with greater comfort and finger sensitivity while nitrile-coated variants offer longer-term durability and chemical handling utility at nearly double the cost. However, compromised quality risks failure leading to injury expenses and liabilities outweighing upfront savings. The solution is to align glove selection with risk level, glove change frequency, and activity requirements. Low-risk environments may utilize latex coated gloves. But work places where engineers spend time maintaining concentrated chemical tanks would benefit from more expensive nitrile coats supporting extensive use without permeation. Balancing both elements tailored to workplace demands expert guidance in optimizing glove value.

Advantages of Nitrile Coated Over Latex Coated Gloves

When selecting protective handwear, nitrile-coated gloves show advantages over natural latex options that make them the preferred choice across sectors. It is allergen-free, has enhanced chemical stability, and has superior abrasion resistance that enables better defense and economical than latex.

User reviews show benefits like the following:

• Janitorial services praise nitrile coating’s resistance to bleaches, degreasers, and corrosive formulations used daily for surface cleaning without degrading after repeat exposure. The grip stability empowers staff to work efficiently.
• Healthcare administrators choose nitrile quote factors like heightened barriers against contagions and drugs as well as eliminating latex allergy risks that could endanger the housekeeping or waste management professionals.
• Mechanics favor thicker nitrile coats which withstand automotive grease and oil without sliding off hands even when wet—unlike latex which necessitates frequent glove changes hampering productivity.
• Construction crews appreciate nitrile’s stability against 13-gauge nails, steel cords, and wood splinters that easily pierce thinner latex coating that degrades quicker. Nitrile-coated gloves encourage reuse without rapidly compromising safety and boosting comfort. Market forecasts predict the nitrile glove industry expanding exponentially as more sectors transition to maximize defense despite marginally higher costs that pay off through extended application life.

In conclusion, nitrile-coated gloves are better than latex-coated gloves because they are durable, flexible, puncture and chemical-resistant, and allergen-free. However, acknowledging that latex-coated gloves offer natural elasticity and comfort, users must weigh these factors against potential allergy concerns.

Noting the price difference between nitrile and latex-coated gloves, showing the need for a measured method when picking gloves that meet both quality and cost needs.

Looking ahead, the future of coated glove technology appears promising. With constant changes in trends and innovations, there is space for upgrades in durability, functionality, and overall user experience. As technology develops, users can anticipate even more advanced solutions tailored to meet diverse industry needs.

If you require nitrile-coated work gloves, get in touch with i9 Essentials. We have a wide range of work gloves for all your requirements.