For the past two years the world is desperately looking for solutions to fight the Coronavirus and the most effective way that has emerged is to protect yourself from it by using PPE (personal protective equipment) which consists of items like masks, face shields, medical gowns, gloves, etc. Among these, gloves are the most used item.
The most prevalent materials for gloves are Latex, Vinyl, and Nitrile. The functionality of all of these is quite similar but some are better suited than others in certain settings depending on the material they’re made of and also the industry.
Let us understand the key differences between Nitrile, Vinyl and latex gloves.
Latex is 100% biodegradable made from latex obtained from latex ducts of trees, so it’s a sustainable option. Its form fitting and elastic property makes it a popular material for making gloves. Latex gloves offer a natural resistance to acids, bases and other chemicals but it is not as protective as Nitrile gloves. It is available in different thickness depending on the users’ requirement according to his job.
These gloves which are available in powdered as well as non-powdered options may cause skin irritation in certain people where skin perceives the protein in latex as harmful hence erupting in irritation. These also tear easily than other material gloves and shelf life is only about three years while for others its more.
Vinyl gloves are made of PVC and is non-biodegradable, the material being inexpensive brings down the cost of production and is available cheaper than other options. These are very economical owing to their longer shelf life of five years and can be bought in bulk. Vinyl gloves are loose fitting & powder free and are popular for home use and also certain medical settings as they are suitable for handling non-hazardous substances. These are free from allergens.
But these vinyl gloves do not offer ample protection from bio-hazardous materials and chemicals. Jobs that require strenuous lifting can’t be handled using these vinyl gloves because of their loose fit. As these are made of thin material so are more prone to tearing and puncturing than other options available in gloves. These don’t allow skin to breathe.
Nitrile is a synthetic copolymer made by combining acrylonitrile and butadiene. It starts out as rubber and transforms into latex which on further processing and after removing all the latex proteins gives nitrile. These have a comfortable fit. These are more durable and chemical resistant than latex gloves and also don’t cause any allergy like them. However, some people may have allergies due to other antigens in this material. This is most prevalent in medical use as they are better at handling hazardous chemicals and other bio-fluids. These too have a shelf life of about five years.
These are a bit costly to produce and hence sometimes the consumer finds them to be more expensive. These are not as biodegradable as latex. These are more expensive than vinyl or latex.
You should first understand your purpose and what you’ll be handling with those gloves to get an understanding of which material will be better suited for you from the options available. You also will have to take into consideration your allergic history to any of the materials. Nitrile gloves are used mostly in hospitals and industrial settings, latex gloves are used in operations as they have high touch sensitivity while vinyl gloves are used for handling and serving food and light tasks like painting and cleaning.
Vinyl, latex and nitrile gloves- all three are popular and in use, so you’ll have to weigh your options based on your priorities like whether you are looking for a cost-effective option, a sustainable option or just for the most durable gloves. Latex gloves are more eco-friendly while Nitrile ones are the most durable of the three and latex gloves have many properties of nitrile gloves while the vinyl gloves are the most economical.
We at OxyMed offer the most competitive prices of vinyl, latex and nitrile gloves in Dubai. You can contact us for timely and cost-effective supply in Dubai and Delhi, NCR.
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