Each coating has its qualities!
NITRILE
Anti-slip vulcanised synthetic rubber
- Excellent abrasion and cut resistance
- Three times the puncture resistance of latex
- Good mechanical performance
- Excellent resistance to oil, grease and hydrocarbons
- Good resistance to acids, certain organic solvents, pesticides, oils and fuels
- No latex proteins
- Heat resistance (but no flame resistance)
- Relatively rigid
- Normally low tear resistance
- No chemical resistance against ketones and some chlorinated hydrocarbons methylene chloride and trichloroethylene)
NATURAL RUBBER LATEX
Natural rubber mainly from latex and the rubber tree
- Very flexible and elastic
- Good grip
- Excellent resistance to tearing and bending
- Good resistance to abrasion
- Very robust
- Waterproof
- Protects against weak acids, caustics, alcohols and detergents
- Protection viruses and bacteria
- Poor chemical resistance against oils, greases, hydrocarbons and organic solvents
- Proteins may cause allergies
POLYURETHANE (PU)
Plastic that is microporous elastomer
- Very flexible and elastic
- No latex proteins
- Clean – does not shed particles like other polymers
- Good resistance to abrasion
- Good resistance to oil
- Does not harden in the cold
- Does not soften in the heat
- Excellent perspiration thanks to porous ventilation
- Low chemical resistance
- Poor resistance to hot water
PVC (POLY VINYL CHLORIDE)
Impermeable plastic
- Flexible at even -20°C
- Material softened by a plasticizer
- Good electrical insulator
- High chemical resistance
- Low resistance to cuts, puncturing and heat
- Disposable PVC gloves might have pinholes
- Low resistance to solvents
NEOPRENE
Polychloroprene synthetic rubber
- Flexible and soft like natural rubber
- No latex proteins
- Good abrasion and cut resistant
- Chemical protection against acids, alcohols, fats, ketones, organic and inorganic solvents, oils, greases and petrochemicals
- Heat resistant and flame resistant
- Poor grip when wet
- No chemical resistance against chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents
BUTYL
Synthetic rubber polymer for heavy chemical protection
- Very elastic, even at low temperatures
- Excellent chemical resistance against ketones (MEK, acetone) and acids
- Low gas permeability
- Limited grip
- Limited dexterity
- Poor mechanical resistance
- Poor resistance to aliphatic hydrocarbons (hexane, diesel, gasoline), aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene) and halogenated solvents (chloroform and chlorobenzene)
VITON
Synthetic rubber polymer – the last resort
- Protects where nothing else protects
- Chemical protection against PCBs
- Excellent chemical protection against chlorinated, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons
- Limited grip
- Limited dexterity
- Not suitable for ketones, esters and nitro compounds