Your guide to specialty materials

Safety gloves are worn in thousands of work environments around the world in various settings such as bakeries, hospitals and construction sites. Simply put, safety gloves are protective clothing that provides protection to the hands, fingers, thumbs, and wrists against external forces, chemicals, the elements, and workplace hazards. For every industry that requires safety gloves, there are dozens of different items that offer specialty specifications for the wearer's needs. In this era of rapid technological advances, new chemicals are being developed and processes are being developed. In many ways, workers are exposed to greater risks in their work environment and having the right safety equipment is important.

Materials

HPPE (High Performance Polyethylene)

HPPE fiber has an extremely high resistance to physical-mechanical disturbances from the external environment, it is also flexible and light, but very durable. Gloves made entirely of HPPE can typically achieve cut resistance at level 3 / B according to EN388:2016, but when reinforced with steel or other fiber this can be increased to cut resistance at level 5 / E and higher .

FIBER GLASS

High strength to weight ratio and flexibility. Fiberglass is a lightweight material that creates strength in almost any finished product or component. Fiberglass can be stronger than steel and metals. Very resistant to the extremes of the environment, that is why it is used in anti-cut gloves. It has a smooth, silky surface that feels cool to the wearer, offering high comfort to the user. Fiberglass can be used as a single component to provide shear strength, typically reaching level 3 / B, but also to reinforce other fibers.

STEEL FIBER

Compared to other types of fibers such as carbon, glass, aramid or natural fibers, metallic fibers have a low electrical resistance. This makes them suitable for any application that requires electrical conductivity. Their excellent thermal resistance makes them withstand extreme temperatures. Corrosion resistance is achieved by using high quality alloys in stainless steels or other metals. Other advantageous mechanical properties of metallic fibers include high deformation, ductility, shock resistance and fire resistance. Stainless steel is commonly used to provide cut resistance in combination with other fibers such as aramid or HPPE. Cut resistance with steel has been and continues to be a preferred option for the user,

PolyKor®

PolyKor® Xrystal® is an engineered thread that represents the next generation in maximum cut protection and comfort. It is a blend of high modulus polyethylene and mineral based fibers. These mineral-based fibers have a similar chemical composition to glass, but are inherently better in terms of resistance to cutting and oxidation, as well as compression and shear.

.Continuous fiber is produced by ingenious extrusion from mineral melts, creating one of the strongest and toughest fibers in the world.

CARBON FIBER

Antistatic gloves are made of conductive carbon fibers and coatings that prevent the build-up of static electricity that, when discharged, can damage sensitive equipment or create dangerous sparks. Carbon fibers are extremely stiff, strong and lightweight and are used in many processes to create excellent construction or protective materials. The properties of carbon fiber are close to that of steel, and the weight is close to that of plastic. Thus, the strength-to-weight ratio (as well as the stiffness-to-weight ratio) of carbon fiber is much higher than that of steel or plastic. Carbon fiber is extremely strong.

Glove covers

Nitrile foam

A layer of foamed nitrile acts as a sponge when working with oily surfaces, providing excellent grip in wet and oily conditions. The nitrile in the foam also allows the hand to breathe, which means increased comfort for wearers. With the open pore structure of flexible foam nitrile, it can become saturated, so it is more suitable for oily conditions and dry surfaces.

Fine textured nitrile

Gloves with a fine layer of nitrile are tough and durable with good abrasion and puncture resistance. They typically have a good grip on areas with oil, grease and liquids, however, they may offer less dexterity, so they are not suitable for complicated assembly work. Fine nitrile coated gloves work well in a number of industries including automotive, glass manufacturing, metal fabrication or stamping and construction.

Polyurethane (PU)

PU is often considered the ideal coating for cut protection gloves due to its soft and stretchy properties that still provide good puncture resistance without being too bulky. PU coatings tend to have higher levels of penetration into the knit lining as a disadvantage and this can cause skin sensitivity issues. PU is also a non-breathable coating, so it is often used as a finger or palm-only coating style to reduce sweat inside the gloves. PU is durable and flexible, making it an excellent coating for general sharps handling and assembly in many industries such as manufacturing, aerospace and precision handling.

Latex

Latex offers high elasticity and grip compared to other glove coatings. This is especially true of rough-textured latex, which offers remarkable adhesion often along puncture resistance. A downside to latex-coated gloves is that latex contains a protein that can sometimes cause allergic reactions in some wearers. But, latex is very durable and is still ideal for a number of applications in industries such as construction, glass, utilities and waste management.

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a thermoplastic polymer. PVC offers good abrasion resistance but can be susceptible to punctures, cuts and jams. Although flexible, it does not offer the tactile sensitivity associated with most rubber products. PVC begins to soften at about 82°C. PVC is effective against water and most aqueous solutions, detergents and diluted bases and acids. It has only limited chemical resistance to organic solvents. PVC is one of the most common coatings for work gloves.

Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR)

TPR material, also known as thermoplastic rubber, is a material that has both plastic and rubber properties. It is lightweight and has good abrasion resistance, tear resistance, weather resistance and electrical properties.

Features of TPR material

· It has high flexural fatigue strength

· High resistance to tearing and abrasion

· It has high impact resistance and good dielectric properties

· Resistant to chemicals

· Recyclable

· It can be used at temperatures between -30°C and 140°C