Vinyl Gloves: The Second Generation of Gloves

With a number of people reporting allergies to latex, a second generation of gloves was developed to meet the needs of these individuals: Vinyl.

Vinyl is a synthetic material derived from petroleum. It is also referred to as poly vinyl chloride or PVC. In other words, vinyl gloves are essentially plastic. Not surprisingly, vinyl gloves have a looser, baggier fit and they do not take the shape of the hand as well as a latex glove. This is why they are usually considered a less effective medical barrier than latex and are more often seen in industrial and food service applications.

However, vinyl gloves are a practical, inexpensive and latex-free alternative, which provide effective hand protection in a variety of applications. In fact, vinyl gloves are recommended for some applications latex gloves are not. Keep in mind it all depends on the specific application and situation, and you should always test the glove first.

How about if you experience sensitivity to latex, yet need a form-fitting glove providing a superior medical or chemical barrier?

Is there an alternative disposable glove to latex and vinyl?

Let’s find out.

Sincerely Yours,
The Ammex Glover

Latex Gloves-The Real Rubber Gloves

While not all disposable gloves are made out of rubber, you have probably heard people refer to them as “rubber gloves”. This is not surprising when you think that the first surgical-type gloves made, were indeed made out of rubber

We’ve got Dr.William Stewart Halsted to thank for rubber gloves! In 1889, his Head Operating Nurse and wife-to-be, Caroline Hampton, developed dermatitis from the harsh hand disinfectants used prior to surgery. Dr. Halsted turned to the Goodyear Rubber Company to manufacture thin rubber gloves that could be used for hand protection. ( William Stewart Halsted, Retrieved May 20th 2009 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stewart_Halsted)

Latex rubber gloves are made of a natural rubber protein derived from the rubber tree. Neatly-lined groups of rubber trees are “tapped”-or cut- and their sap collected in containers. This sap is then mixed with chemicals in an elaborate manufacturing process, to produce what nowadays are more commonly known as Latex Gloves.

Latex gloves take the shape of the hands extremely well, making it easy to manipulate small objects. This is why they are found across all industries, from medical to food service, manufacturing and industrial.

In more recent years, however, there has been growing concern with individuals experiencing sensitivity to latex. As a result, a second generation of gloves has been developed to cater to the needs of these people.

Do you know what the second generation of gloves is? Stay tuned to find out!

Sincerely Yours,

The Ammex Glover

Are all Gloves the Same?

Are all Gloves the Same?

Believe it or not there are so many types of gloves it would take an eternity to list. (Ok maybe not so long…but seriously, there are PLENTY).

Aside from those used in fashion or sports, gloves fall within two main categories:
Work Gloves and Disposable Gloves.

Work gloves are made of durable material such as cotton, leather and polyester. Disposables gloves are made of latex, vinyl or nitrile. They are intended for one-time use.

Some of the most common types of work gloves include: Leather Palm, Leather Drivers, Jerseys, String Knit, String-Knit with PVC Dots, Latex-Dipped and Nitrile-Dipped

When it comes to disposable gloves, I’ve noticed that many people newer to the glove world think all disposable gloves are “rubber gloves”, and can’t tell the difference.

As we’ll find out though, there are actually different kinds of disposable gloves and they are significantly different from each other.

But what exactly is the difference between latex, vinyl and nitrile gloves?

We’ll find out…

Sincerely Yours,

The Ammex Glover