Glove coatings are vital to proper hand protection for you and your employees. However, there are a handful of different types of glove coatings that you should know about as you begin your search for work gloves. Here we will highlight three of the main types of glove coatings, comparing and contrasting each of them.
Latex Coating
This type of glove coating is widely used across many industries and is best known for offering a high degree of elasticity and grip. This coating also offers wearers superb tear and alcohol resistance. Uniquely, latex coatings also withstands extreme temperatures. Unlike other synthetic coating materials, latex does not stand up as well to organic solvents like gasoline. And, as you most know, a latex coating does provide the risk of allergic reaction, unlike most other synthetic materials.
Nitrile Coating
Since nitrile is the synthetic version of latex, they bear many similarities when it comes to how they perform as a glove coating. However, the nitrile boasts all of the same protection of latex in an enhanced manner. Nitrile is three times more puncture resistant than natural latex rubber. It is also oil and water resistant. As a coating, nitrile provides a unique sort of gripping ability when in contact with oils and other liquids. Typically nitrile coatings are “foamed” which makes the coating act much like a sponge when it comes in contact with liquids on the job. The liquid is in turn soaked up and displaced, leaving the wearer with improved gripping capabilities.
PU (polyurethane) Coating
This synthetic coating is similar to latex and nitrile coatings because of its excellent abrasion resistance. It is similar to nitrile, and different from latex, in that it is resistant to oils, solvents and many other liquids. PU glove coatings provide exceptional grip without becoming sticky, which makes this type of coating ideal for working with small parts. Unlike Latex and nitrile glove coatings, synthetic polyurethane offers wearers a high level of breathability along with dexterity. This sort of coating will enhance puncture resistance while maintaining the ever-important tactile sensitivity. Unlike latex, a PU coating does not stand up well to extreme temperatures.
Typically, gloves with touch screen capabilities are coated with some sort of polyurethane hybrid material, since the PU coating inherently offers an excellent level of tactile and sensitivity and is the least bulky coating material.