How Is Latex Gloves Made

What’s so interesting about how disposable gloves are made? Quite a lot, it seems.

We frequently get questions about what’s involved in making gloves. We’ve also published a few blog posts over the years describing the manufacturing process, and they’re always among our most popular.

Thinking it might be handy to tie it all together in one, here goes with an easy-to-read summation of how the process works.

The basic building blocks

There are four primary materials used in making disposable gloves: nitrile butadiene rubber, natural rubber latex, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene. Various specialty gloves incorporate other materials, but those four cover everything that AMMEX sells.

Where nitrile, vinyl come from

The processes for creating nitrile and vinyl materials is similar. The nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) used for nitrile gloves is a copolymer, which is a substance derived from the bonding of molecules. In the case of NBR, the two parts are butadiene and acrylonitrile, which chemists combine using a process known as copolymerization.

These molecules provide specific advantages for the gloves: Acrylonitrile enhances the chemical resistance, while butadiene creates flexibility and tear resistance.

Refer to more articles:  How To Knit Fingerless Gloves For Kids

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) must be produced at a polymer production facility through the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomers. The raw PVC material then receives a plasticizer, making it soft and pliable; otherwise, the PVC would be rigid, as it is when used to form pipe. It is then sent to a glove production facility.

Once the synthetic materials are prepared, they are added to the production process. With a few exceptions—primarily involving washing and chlorination to remove latex proteins—this process is mostly the same as the steps for manufacturing latex gloves.

The last steps of the cycle include testing the gloves, then boxing and shipping them. You can read more about the testing process in our recent post, Acceptable Quality Level Determines If a Glove Is Industrial or Exam Grade.

Poly is a process all its own

Polyethylene is the most affordable glove material and is used primarily in the food service industry.

It is a polymer that is synthesized from ethylene and a thermoplastic that is formed into various shapes as it cools from a liquid state to a solid state.

Two polyethylene sheets are seamed and sealed with heat to create disposable gloves. Because poly gloves are not dipped like latex, nitrile and vinyl gloves, they are not impervious to liquids. Vinyl gloves are a suitable alternative for food services tasks where liquids are present.

Happy Holidays from everyone at AMMEX!

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