Latex and nitrile gloves are two of the most commonly used types of gloves among healthcare workers today. While they share some similarities, there are some marked differences between them. Those differences are helping to make nitrile gloves a favorable substitute for latex.

The popularity of nitrile gloves is constantly expanding. The North American market for non-latex gloves has had an annual growth rate of around 4.5 percent, according to research by marketing consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Much of the increase in demand has come from the medical industry. Many hospitals and health care providers are using nitrile gloves, which are very similar to latex as far as barrier protection. Even Transportation Security Administration workers at airports frequently use nitrile gloves for their inspections.

Less Sensitivity
Nitrile gloves are becoming a popular option in hand protection because they don’t cause allergic reactions the way latex does. Natural rubber latex contains proteins that act as stabilizers, which can cause allergic reactions in susceptible glove users.

Nitrile gloves, made from a hypoallergenic synthetic polymer, provide a more suitable alternative to people who experience latex sensitivity. And as a boost to this worker-friendly material, nitrile gloves are now available in the many grades, sizes and colors that have long been the standard in latex and vinyl.

In addition to its non-allergenic properties, nitrile gloves have several other advantages over the latex variety. For instance, they’re more resistant to punctures and tears. However, nitrile material is not puncture-proof and it will tear away completely if punctured. This is an undisguised benefit, however, because a tear in nitrile gloves is obvious and clearly indicates the need for a replacement. Latex, on the other hand, is more prone to developing pinprick holes that may not be visible to the naked eye. And this can create undetected, prolonged exposure to hazards.

Resistance to Solvents and Chemicals
Nitrile gloves are highly effective at resisting oils, fats, solvents and chemicals. This makes them an ideal choice for use in the chemical industry and laboratories, which deal with organic chemicals like aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents. Nitrile gloves are widely used in the petrochemical industry, in agricultural pesticide applications and in chicken and meat processing plants as well.

Sturdiness of Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves are close to natural rubber latex in feel, fit, durability and dexterity. However, nitrile has a longer shelf life than natural rubber latex, which tends to break down with exposure to the elements. In fact, nitrile gloves have a lower failure rate than latex gloves in side-by-side comparison of simulated industrial use.

Ease of Production and Use of Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile material is significantly easier to produce than natural rubber. Natural rubber is a linear polymer that must be pre-cured to strengthen it before dipping. However, nitrile polymers are inherently cross linked, so little or no pre-curing is needed to enhance their strength.

Nitrile gloves also are more effective at breaking up electrostatic charges. Plus, because they resist getting scuffed or scraped, they tend to contribute fewer particles to contaminate the work environment.

DonTheGlove.com offers two varieties of high quality nitrile gloves.