Nitrile

Manufacturing improvements are making nitrile gloves a viable exam glove alternative for workers in the dental field.

According to a study by researcher Hetal Patel and his colleagues, unused nitrile gloves showed less pre-existing pinhole defects than latex gloves. As part of the testing, several brands of both types of gloves were filled with air, submerged in water and observed for the presence of air bubbles indicating small holes. The number and positioning of pinholes were recorded for 100 gloves of each brand being examined.

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Wearing gloves isn't commonplace in many automotive jobs-but it should be. Gloves, particularly nitrile gloves, can provide important protection to technicians working in the automotive repair and collision industry.

Workers may use gloves to protect their hands against burns, cuts, and vibration and impact that can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. However, toxic chemicals in paints, cleaners, gasoline and solvents also pose a serious threat. Chemicals can affect the internal organs, create skin problems such as dermatitis, redness, pain, or even cause cancer over time.

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Nitrile gloves are increasingly becoming a popular choice in a variety of work settings from hospitals to automotive service stations. They are valued above many other types of gloves for four important reasons. For one, disposable nitrile gloves are made of a synthetic nitrile polymer which consists of three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene, and any one of many carboxylic acids. They don’t contain any natural rubber latex, so they can be used by workers with latex allergies.

In fact, up to 6 percent of Americans are estimated to have some type of latex allergy, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Reactions can begin within minutes of exposure and range from hives, nasal symptoms and asthma to anaphylactic shock and death in more severe cases.

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Nitrile exam gloves offer superior performance in a variety of harsh, high-risk work conditions, due to the make up of the material. Nitrile is a synthetic polymer that displays rubber-like characteristics when vulcanized. The polymer is made in the form of latex, an emulsion, and can be processed much like natural rubber latex.

However, unlike natural latex, the backbone of the nitrile polymer is composed of three monomers ("mono" meaning one and "mer" meaning unit). These monomers ingredients are acrylonitrile, butadiene, and any one of many carboxylic acids. They are uniquely combined and associated with other substances like zinc oxide to create favorable characteristics in nitrile gloves. For example:

1. Acrylonitrile helps enhance resistance to hydrocarbon oils, fats, and solvents.
2. Butadiene adds elasticity.
3. Carboxylic acids contribute strength and resistance to solvents, tearing, and abrasion.

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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.

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