Nitrile gloves are gloves that resist injury and bacteria. So what exactly are nitrile gloves? What can they protect against?
Firstly, nitrile gloves can effectively protect your hands from damage caused by oil, grease, and other petroleum-based products. They can also effectively block many organic solvents, alkalis, and acids. In other words, if you come into contact with any chemicals that could potentially harm your skin during work, you can choose to wear nitrile gloves.
However, they cannot resist all chemicals, such as hydrofluoric acid, strong oxidants, ketones, acetates, concentrated acids, and highly corrosive chemicals.
Therefore, you need to know which chemicals are suitable for nitrile gloves. Conduct thorough research to ensure nitrile gloves can protect your skin when you encounter these harmful chemicals. Next, we will introduce everything about nitrile gloves. Let’s find out more.
What are nitrile gloves？
Nitrile gloves are made from a hypoallergenic synthetic material called nitrile rubber, making them an ideal choice for allergy sufferers. Therefore, nitrile gloves are widely popular in various professional fields.
Nitrile gloves can also prevent cross-contamination, especially in food-grade applications. If you purchase powder-free gloves, they can fully guarantee food safety. Additionally, nitrile gloves are made from synthetic rather than natural rubber, so they do not contain latex. Therefore, nitrile gloves are unlikely to cause allergic reactions.
Why is it important to understand the protective functions of nitrile gloves?
Understanding their limitations can protect your safety and the safety of others, just as understanding the limitations of disposable masks is crucial.
Nitrile gloves are also used in other situations, such as food preparation work with a risk of cross-contamination. However, as mentioned above, every product has its limitations. Nitrile gloves are no exception; although they protect against chemicals, their protective abilities are limited. If handling more aggressive chemicals, additional precautions may be necessary to protect oneself.
What can nitrile gloves protect against?
Nitrile gloves can effectively prevent most water-based solutions and chemicals, as well as certain food oils. They can also protect against electric shock and various chemical substances, including those used in cleaning and disinfection processes. Additionally, nitrile gloves exhibit good resistance to abrasion, puncture, and tear.
Which chemicals can nitrile gloves protect against?
Nitrile gloves are commonly used when handling cleaning chemicals or dealing with patients with infectious diseases. They can also protect against strong acids, alkalis, and organic solvents.
Nitrile gloves act as a barrier between the user’s hands and harmful petroleum products such as oil, fuel, and grease. This high level of protection makes them the preferred choice for automotive, manufacturing, and industrial purposes. However, not all nitrile gloves possess chemical resistance.
In general, nitrile gloves can protect against the following types of chemicals:
- Fuels
- Weak acids
- Mild corrosives
- Household detergents
- Certain organic solvents
- Oils
- Vegetable oils
- Petroleum products
Which specific chemicals cannot be prevented by nitrile gloves?
- Ketones
- Strong acids and alkalis
- Alcohols
- Halogenated hydrocarbons
- Aromatic hydrocarbons
- Esters
- Ethers
- Amines
- Ammonia
- Chlorine gas
- Sulfur dioxide gas
- Hydrofluoric acid
- Fluorides
These are some of the chemicals that nitrile gloves cannot protect against, and some of these substances may even cause the gloves to degrade.
Can nitrile gloves withstand heat?
Yes, nitrile gloves typically have heat-resistant and puncture-resistant properties. This is because they are made of thick rubber material that exhibits elasticity at high temperatures.
Can nitrile gloves prevent electric shock?
Nitrile itself is not conductive. Additionally, it is an insulator with strong resistance, meaning that electric current cannot easily pass through nitrile rubber. Therefore, it is essentially a very poor conductor. So, the next time you need to work with electricity, be sure to wear gloves accordingly.
Can nitrile gloves resist bacteria and viruses?
Bacteria and viruses can penetrate the material of nitrile gloves. Nitrile gloves can resist various chemicals, including those found in detergents, cleaners, and solvents. However, their resistance to bacteria and viruses is not as reliable. However, if they are professional medical-grade nitrile gloves, they will undergo stricter and more professional antimicrobial testing, which can relatively better prevent the implantation of bacteria and viruses.
Can nitrile gloves prevent cross-contamination of food ingredients?
Yes, especially disposable nitrile gloves, are indeed an ideal choice for cooking and serving. Therefore, in many food service fields, nitrile gloves are the preferred choice. Moreover, because they are disposable, it makes it easy for chefs or servers to change gloves during the work process, thereby avoiding cross-contamination and ensuring food safety.
A rather harsh reality is that handwashing often cannot eradicate bacteria, while nitrile gloves can ensure the prevention of bacterial transmission.
How to Stay Safe While Wearing Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves are a great way to protect your hands from irritating chemicals and other materials. However, many people are not aware that nitrile gloves can also be a potential source of danger. If you are not careful, you may quickly find yourself suffering from glove poisoning. To ensure safety, follow some simple guidelines when using nitrile gloves.
Ensure the Gloves Fit You Properly
First and foremost, it is crucial to ensure that the gloves you are using are the right size. Whether they are too large, too small, too thick, or too thin, ill-fitting gloves are not advisable, as they can cause inconvenience and even lead to accidents.
Avoid Touching Your Face
When wearing nitrile gloves, try to avoid touching your face or putting your hands near your mouth. After removing the gloves, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. If any chemicals come into contact with your skin, be sure to remove them immediately.
Regularly Check and Replace
Regularly inspect the gloves for cracks, tears, or other damage. If any damage is found, replace the gloves immediately to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Only Wear the Best Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves are the best choice in many situations. They not only protect your hands from various chemicals but also offer many other additional benefits. Especially if you tend to be allergic to natural latex, nitrile gloves can achieve effects that latex gloves cannot.
Store the Gloves Safely
Finally, be sure to store nitrile gloves in a safe place to prevent ingestion or contact with children.
What Protection Features Do Nitrile Gloves Have?
You may have only a vague understanding of nitrile gloves. However, based on the above article, you can learn some knowledge about nitrile gloves and have a basic understanding of their functions. If you still have doubts about these gloves, you can come to Aibon for inquiries, and we will provide you with the most perfect answers.
Remember, nitrile gloves are the best choice for protecting your hands from harmful chemicals! This is the protective function (and non-protective function) of nitrile gloves.
How to Measure Glove Sizes – Source: AIBON
Medical Gloves – Source: FDA
Nitrile Gloves or Latex – Source: AIBON
Medical Gloves Guidance Manual – Source: FDA