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Work gloves are specifically made to perform certain jobs. There are very many types of work gloves in the market today. In this article, we will be interested in the following types of gloves; PU coated gloves, Nitrile dipped gloves, PVC dotted gloves, cut resistance gloves, heat resistant gloves, latex coated gloves, antistatic gloves, chemical resistant gloves, latex coated gloves and touch screen gloves.
PU coated gloves
Polyurethane gloves popularly known as PU Gloves are work gloves which are covered with a protective polyurethane coating. PU coated gloves are usually made of nylon. They are usually thin and light. It is however worth noting that this doesn’t compromise their mechanical properties i.e. tear resistance and high abrasion. Another property possessed by PU coated gloves is durability. Polyurethane has a perfect resistance to ozone corrosion as well as aliphatic solvents. PU coated gloves are best in the microelectronics, light automotive, product inspection and photographic equipment industries.
Nitrile dipped gloves
Nitrile is an organic compound (a 100% synthetic acrylonitrile and butadiene co-polymer) that is known to absorb oils and liquids on smooth surfaces displacing them for excellent grip. From this description it is obvious that Nitrile dipped gloves are excellent for handling applications in the automotive and maintenance industries. It is also important to note that the Nitrile in Nitrile dipped gloves makes them puncture resistant and provides good abrasion and grip.
PVC dotted gloves
Poly (vinyl chloride) or PVC is one of the most widely produced and used plastics after polypropylene and polyethylene. When used to make gloves i.e. PVC dotted gloves, PVC provides stronger gripping power and reduces glove wear and tear. PVC dotted gloves are also more comfortable compared to regular PVC gloves. The gloves are idea for handling applications i.e. handling warehouse materials.
Cut resistant gloves
As the name suggests, cut resistant gloves are gloves specifically designed to protect your hands from directly coming into contact with sharp objects/edges i.e. metals, glass, ceramics e.t.c. Cut resistant gloves have unique thickness and material composition foreign in other work gloves i.e. Kevlar and Spectra. This makes the gloves extremely safe for applications where cuts are inevitable i.e. glass and ceramics industries. The gloves also protect the hands from abrasion. It is worth noting that Spectra Fiber makes cut resistant gloves over 10 times stronger/tougher than metals i.e. steel per unit weight.
Heat resistant gloves
As the name suggests, these types of work gloves are used to protect the hands from extreme heat. Heat resistant gloves are common in applications characterized by high temperatures i.e. work environments/applications with temperatures between 200 and 315 degrees Celsius. It is important to note that the type of heat matters a lot when choosing heat resistant gloves. This is because heat can either be dry or moist requiring specialized gloves. There are three main types of heat resistant gloves according to their capabilities i.e. low, medium and high heat resistant gloves. Low heat resistant gloves resist heat below 204 degrees Celsius. Medium heat resistant gloves on the other hand resist heat below 260 degrees Celsius while high heat resistant gloves resist heat below 315 degrees Celsius.
Latex coated gloves
These are work gloves which are coated with an additional layer of latex. The latex coating makes the gloves comfortable adding great grip as well as increased protection. Latex coated gloves are the best for small industrial applications i.e. handling small parts in the automotive, metal stamping and general purpose industries. Latex is a suitable glove coating because it is puncture resistant, highly elastic and durable. Latex also has good abrasion and grip.
Antistatic gloves
Antistatic work gloves as the name suggests are specifically made for antistatic applications. Antistatic gloves protect the hands from the damaging/harmful effects of ESD (electric static discharge). These gloves are the best for applications involving sensitive electronic components. Antistatic gloves are made using a number of materials i.e. nylon copper fiber, nylon carbon fiber and Nitrile.
Chemical resistant gloves
These gloves offer excellent tactile sensitivity and well as dexterity. Chemical resistant gloves are specifically made to resist certain chemicals. The gloves are common in petrochemical or oil and chemical plant applications. Different chemicals require different coatings to offer maximum protection. The most common materials that make chemical resistant gloves include; Nitrile, latex, neoprene, viton-butyl and chemstop-butyl.
Touch screen gloves
These are special gloves designed for touch screen applications i.e. jobs that require you to handle equipment or electronics with touch screens. It is important to note that there are touch screen gloves specifically made to work with your phone. Such gloves can be used to operate your touch screen phone during cold weather. The gloves are sensitive to touch screens unlike regular gloves worn during winter.
Garden gloves
These gloves are specifically meant for doing garden work. Garden gloves can be made using any material. The most common garden gloves are made using rubber or leather. These materials make it easy for a person to do garden work because rubber and leather garden gloves are comfortable. The gloves also offer adequate protection and grip.
In summary, the above work gloves are the most common in the market today. You shouldn’t have a problem finding a suitable glove for doing a certain task above. It is however important to consider doing further research because there are many other types of work gloves in the market today.