It is logical to assume when it comes to nitrile disposable gloves that the thicker the glove, the more protection it offers. As this is the case with so many safety products, normally thicker can mean better. However, although they appear quite simple, nitrile disposables gloves are actually a rather complicated product. To understand why you should not compare nitrile gloves based on thickness, you first need to understand how a nitrile disposable glove is made.
To craft a high-quality, reliable, high-performance nitrile disposable glove, there are a lot of key factors that must not be overlooked. Factors such as… The raw nitrile material, the nitrile ‘formula’, surface modified technology, chlorination, and appropriate certification.
Let’s break down what each mean in terms of quality.
1. RAW NITRILE MATERIAL
In very simple terms, raw nitrile can either be more elastic or more chemical/solvent resistant. Raw nitrile that has stronger chemical resistance, is generally more expensive than elastic raw nitrile.
2. NITRILE DISPOSABLE GLOVE FORMULA
Quality gloves are made with formulas that have been engineered and refined over decades by experts, with the aim of delivering a high-performing glove for the wearer.
3. SURFACE MODIFICATION
Surface modification (including inside the glove) provides a silky finish, meaning gloves are easier to put on. The glove will react less with the wearer’s skin – less sweating and skin irritation.
4. GLOVE CHLORINATION
An extra level of processing that ‘seals the nitrile’, makes the gloves silkier and tact free, and helps remove remaining odours from the manufacturing process. They are significantly more comfortable than gloves that have minimal or no chlorination, resulting in the glove able to be worn for an extended period of time.
5. STANDARDS & CERTIFICATION
Having appropriate standards & certification is vitally important. The most common standard that disposable nitrile gloves should feature is EN 374. This provides a framework to classify how well gloves provide protection against chemicals and microorganisms. This helps make it easier for the wearer to compare disposable nitrile gloves, and to find the glove best suited to their individual needs.
There are many parts to EN374. The most important is Part 1 and Part 5. Part 1 is about chemical permeability - the most current standard as of time of writing, measures 18 different chemicals, and assigns each chemical a letter. Gloves are then classified as Type A, B or C, depending on how many Chemical Letters they could withstand during testing. Type A needs to withstand at least 6 different chemicals, Type B has to withstand at least 3 chemicals, and Type C has to withstand at least 1. If a Glove has been EN374 part 1 tested, the below shield symbol will display with the Type and the Letters that it withstood.
Part 5 of EN374 is about resistance to viruses and microorganisms. This is a simple Pass or Fail, the below symbol will display if the gloves have passed. The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it an increased demand for nitrile disposable gloves. In today’s market however, we are seeing an influx of subpar product from companies trying to capitalise on the rise in demand, some of whom are cutting corners to access cheaper gloves.
Gloves that are manufactured by cutting corners are a cheap nitrile ‘formula’, without the ‘key factors’ mentioned, and only focusing on thickness or weight. This will almost tear, puncture and break easily, and chemicals are more likely to permeate quicker and easier.
Remember, the next time you need to compare nitrile disposable gloves, don’t just look thickness. Look for reputable glove brands that have been successfully making high performance nitrile disposable gloves well before the pandemic… ones you know and trust and have the certifications to back them up.
