Rubber Gloves

Rubber gloves are useful nearly anywhere that extra safety and protection are required, from surgical procedures to utility line work to household cleaning jobs. However, the term "rubber gloves" tends to obscure the fact that several different types of rubber glove materials are available. To help determine which rubber gloves are best for you, we offer this guide to rubber glove materials. Rubber Glove Material Comparison Though rubber can be created synthetically, in nature it is produced as a sap by several different types of plants and trees. Rubber was being used in Mesoamerican civilizations during the second millennium B.C., but it wasn't until the 19th Century that rubber use became widespread in the English-speaking world. As a glove material, rubber provides many benefits, including enhanced grip, a flexible protective barrier, and reduced possibility of infection.

The rubber glove materials at OnlyGloves.com can be grouped into four general categories:

• Vinyl Though vinyl gloves are referred to as rubber gloves, vinyl is actually a plastic. Inexpensive disposable rubber gloves are typically made from vinyl because vinyl gloves are cheap to produce but strong enough for general purpose jobs. A great advantage vinyl has over other plastics is that it can be recycled.
• Latex Latex gloves have been the standard rubber gloves in the medical profession for years. Unlike vinyl, latex is both a natural and synthetic rubber material. Latex gloves are used in delicate surgical procedures because of their excellent sensitivity. However, the popularity of latex gloves has declined in recent years because of the increased awareness of latex allergies. Latex gloves should only be used by those who are not vulnerable to dermatitis.
• Nitrile Rubber First the bad news. Nitrile rubber gloves are slightly less comfortable and flexible than latex rubber gloves. But the good news is very good. Nitrile rubber gloves are made from synthetic latex, which means no allergen issues. Nitrile rubber gloves are more resistant than natural rubber to punctures and abrasions, and also resistant to solvents and chemicals. For those reasons, nitrile rubber gloves are quickly becoming the most popular rubber gloves in the medical field and other industries.
• PVC Coating A rubber glove material alternative for industrial and household applications is PVC coated gloves. PVC is a vinyl chloride polymer that provides increased insulation and protection from hazardous materials such as acids, oils, and caustic chemicals.

When shopping for rubber gloves, remember that other features are equally important as materials. Lining, length, grip, and finger design are all important facets of quality rubber gloves.