What is the difference between nitrile, latex and vinyl gloves?

Disposable gloves are an essential item in a number of industries, yet choosing the right type can be pretty overwhelming given the variety of gloves available. 

With competitive price and timely delivery, titanfine sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

The three main types disposable gloves are: latex, nitrile and vinyl, each suiting different needs. In this blog, we&#;ll explore the main attributes of each type of glove, as well as offer guidance into which environments each is best suited for. If you&#;re in need of Coronavirus gloves, take a look here.

The 3 Main Differences Between Nitrile, Latex And Vinyl Gloves:

1. Materials
2. Protection
3. Fit

1. Materials 

Latex

The most commonly used glove material, latex, is a biodegradable material made of organic tree sap, making it a 100% natural substance. Unfortunately, a common allergy that develops from the use of latex products is an allergy to the natural rubber proteins. This allergy can cause irritation, and in more severe cases, anaphylaxis or respiratory issues. 

Those who develop a latex allergy tend to choose nitrile or vinyl gloves.

Nitrile

Nitrile is a synthetic material similar to latex, made from nitrile butadiene rubber (natural rubber). Due to being latex free, nitrile gloves have very low allergy rates (less than 1% of users). 

Nitrile gloves are an ideal alternative when latex allergies are of concern. 

Vinyl 

Vinyl gloves are also completely synthetic (and hence, free from latex), and made from PVC, a petroleum-based film. Similarly to Nitrile gloves, allergic reactions to vinyl gloves are pretty much non-existent.

2. Protection/ Uses 

Latex

Latex gloves are a popular choice for those in medical or food industries as they offer the most effective protection against body fluids, viruses and bacteria. They don&#;t however offer any real protection against solvents, therefore if chemical resistance is important, nitrile would be a better choice.

Nitrile 

Nitrile gloves are often referred to as &#;medical grade&#; and are the superior glove when it comes to puncture resistance. Due to their synthetic construction, they can also provide up to 3 times more resistance to punctures and tears compared to latex gloves, as well as being more flexible and elastic. 

Nitrile is similar to latex in feel, fit and durability, but is more resistant to solvents, chemicals, oils and fats, making them ideal for the chemical industry, laboratories, meat processing, and medical applications. Nitrile gloves are also a popular choice in automotive applications as they have the ability to tolerate higher temperatures than latex.   

If you&#;re looking for a robust, puncture-resistant glove which protects against a huge variety of hazardous chemicals, nitrile gloves are a great choice.

Vinyl 

Vinyl gloves offer limited protection against chemical or biomedical exposure, therefore commonly used in non-hazardous and low-infection environments, such as the food industry and situations where durability and protection is less of a priority. 

However, it&#;s important to note that while vinyl gloves comply with EC / and European Regulation 10/, they should not be used when handling fatty foods, as the oils can leak out the softening agents into the food, causing the glove to become brittle.

3. Fit

Latex 

Latex gloves are close-fitting, just like a second skin, and are great for wearing for an extended period of time. Latex gloves also offer a high level of sensitivity. They are also lightly powdered, making them easier to put on. 

When allergy is not a concern, latex does have a slight advantage with comfort and dexterity over nitrile gloves.

Nitrile 

Due to the synthetic material, nitrile gloves are less fitted to the hand, meaning the user has less range of motion. Although they may not be as comfortable to wear than latex gloves, they are wearable for an extended period of time and have a high level of touch sensitivity. 

Vinyl 

Vinyl gloves have a much looser fit than latex and nitrile gloves. Due to this reason, they are usually only worn for short periods of time. 

Blue powder-free vinyl gloves are the perfect choice for food preparation tasks, as they are food safe, highly detectable and cost-effective.

Are you interested in learning more about does vinyl have latex? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

So, when deciding which type of glove is best suited for your industry, ask yourself how much protection you need and how durable, comfortable and flexible you need them to be.

At Morsafe, we stock an extensive range of PPE equipment and Coronavirus PPE Equipment for your workplace. To find out more, visit our website or contact us at 611 377

Written by Kate Jones, for Morsafe Supplies.

Vinyl gloves are the workhorses of the disposable glove world. They may not be sexy, but they get the job done.

If your glove customers are cost conscious above all, vinyl should be your first recommendation. There are three industries in which they are a perfect fit under most circumstances.

Janitorial/sanitation. The profile here calls for frequent glove changes. That means a thinner glove with a loose fit so it goes on and off easily. Vinyl is not form-fitting like latex or nitrile, so it&#;s easy to change gloves in a hurry when they become soiled or experience a rip or puncture.

Vinyl gloves are always 3 mils thick, so they don&#;t offer the barrier protection of heavier nitrile or latex gloves. They are fine for working with cleaning solutions and non-toxic chemicals, however. You can see which substances are recommended for vinyl by downloading a Chemical Resistance Chart at our Sales Support page. Just log into your account at the Online Portal and navigate over.

A good deal for food service

Food service. From making sandwiches to busing tables, vinyl&#;s affordability and versatility are a great complement to any restaurant&#;especially since margins in the food industry are razor-thin and pinching pennies is considered an art form.

For an all-purpose glove at a great price, it&#;s hard to beat X3 Industrial Clear Vinyl Gloves (GPX3). The user gets dependable hygiene maintenance and barrier protection. Because they contain no latex proteins, there are no worries about allergic reactions.

Considering that the trend in food service is to move away from latex either because of legislative requirement or a desire to better serve public health, vinyl is the way to go. This glove is one of AMMEX&#;s top sellers&#;and for good reason.

Better gloves deliver better margins

Vinyl also delivers a greater margin for distributors than polyethylene food gloves, about which&#;let&#;s be honest here&#;nobody has a lot of nice things to say.

Beauty & salon. Whether your customers are working with hair, nails, or skin, vinyl gloves are an easy answer to protecting hands from potentially hazardous products.

While not offering the level of chemical protection that nitrile does, their more favorable price point makes them a natural choice for applications requiring frequent glove changes. Some nail technicians prefer latex gloves because of their superior fit, but prolonged exposure to latex can lead to latex allergies where none existed before. There is also concern that latex gloves will aggravate customers&#; existing allergies.

Opportunities abound for selling vinyl

There are also plenty of other outlets for vinyl gloves: painting, auto detailing, quick-lube operations and, as long as the coronavirus lingers, any job that involves human contact, from retail to public transit.

In a perfect glove market, nitrile would be cheap and plentiful. Because we have to work with the market we have, however, we sometimes have to make cost concessions, which is where vinyl comes in.

For most light-duty industrial applications, vinyl gets the job done, at a price that keeps customers happy.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit nitrile gloves in bulk.