What are the differences between nitrile vs vinyl gloves? Which is better for what purposes?

While nitrile gloves are generally more expensive than vinyl gloves, they offer a number of advantages over vinyl. When choosing disposable gloves, the main issue to consider is which ones are appropriate for the task at hand.

The purpose of this guide is not to give you a definitive answer on which type of glove is better. Rather, it will provide information about nitrile and vinyl gloves that allow you to make your own decision based on your needs.

What are Nitrile Gloves?

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber that offers flexibility, long-life durability, and chemical resistance. Nitrile is a synthetic elastomer designed to be moisture resistant. Disposable nitrile gloves are flexible and durable making them ideal for industrial tasks, the food industry, and health care applications. They are also great for most medical environments.

What are Nitrile Gloves Made From?

Nitrile Gloves are made from synthetic rubber called acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber. This material provides users with heightened tactile sensitivity, allowing you to pick up small items such as screws and needles more accurately. They are also more puncture resistant.

The disposable glove materials were first developed to solve the common problems of allergic reactions to natural rubber latex gloves and low protection against solvents. They are the most popular glove materials used in many industries and the ideal alternative to disposable latex gloves.

What are Nitrile Gloves Used For?

Nitrile gloves are used for a variety of industrial, domestic, and healthcare purposes. Nitrile gloves are the popular choice for health care workers, dentistry, beauty shop owners, healthcare providers, laboratory work, food handling, chemical handling, and general industrial tasks.

Nitrile protective gloves can also be found in the automotive industry and janitorial industry. Nitrile was found to be more durable than vinyl when performing gripping tasks with power tools and picking up tools like wrenches and screwdrivers.

What are Vinyl Gloves?

Vinyl Gloves are also made of a synthetic polymer but are often less thick and, as a result, less durable. Vinyl is great for non-hazardous situations but does not have the flexibility of nitrile.

What are Vinyl Gloves Made From?

Vinyl gloves are made from a blend of synthetic rubber, plasticizers, and additives called PVC. They were also developed as a great option for those suffering from latex allergies.

What are Vinyl Gloves Used For?

Vinyl gloves are frequently used for food handling, food preparation, low-risk health care applications, light clean-up jobs, and repetitive assembly line or manufacturing tasks. These products are commonly used in non-hazardous situations and low-risk infection environments because of the low level of protection offered. They work great for the food and beverage industry.

For decades, latex gloves were the king of the disposable glove industry. These days, though, as latex allergies are increasingly common, latex products have a more niche application. Either way, the material remains well-suited to handling certain jobs--and ill-suited to others.

Not sure whether latex gloves are the right fit? Here’s a look at what latex gloves are used for.

What are Latex Gloves?

You might be surprised to learn that the materials behind Latex Rubber Gloves are naturally occurring. In fact, while dip-molded latex might lead you to believe these are purely synthetic gloves, latex is actually a naturally occurring plant material.

Basically, latex is any polymer in a water-based or viscous form. Natural latex, or natural rubber latex, is derived from the rubber plant Hevea brasiliensis and is a complex emulsion of proteins, sugars, oils, starches, tannins, alkaloids, resins, and gums that coagulate when exposed to the air.

We transition from the rubber plant to commercial latex by taking fresh latex and transforming it through a process of blending, coagulation, and drying.

What are Disposable Latex Gloves Used For?

Latex gloves have long been popular power players among disposable gloves, whether they’re powdered latex gloves or powder-free gloves. These days, workplaces are more conscious of latex allergies.

Even so, latex remains a popular glove material for its comfort, stretchiness, and tactile sensitivity. This makes latex a popular compound among a specific population: the medical industry.

In terms of medical gloves--especially surgical gloves--few materials can match the dexterity and tactile sensitivity of a latex glove. This is incredibly important for work requiring extreme precision, such as surgery. That said, even regular physicians remain frequent users of latex gloves. Even a regular physical exam needs tactile sensitivity, and on that front, latex gloves are hard to beat.

Latex is also quite popular among workers who need frequent glove changes, whether that’s the healthcare industry or elsewhere. In many cases, you would need powdered gloves to provide the same comfort level as latex powder-free gloves.

POLYETHYLENE GLOVES are our most economical glove. PE Products are most often used for light duty tasks that require frequent glove changes. This glove has a loose fit design for easy on and off applications, and is especially useful in food service lines, deli counters, and other high volume applications. Our clear PE Gloves are available in high density, low density, cast poly, and a new stretch hybrid version that is also available in blue. All PE gloves sold by The Safety Zone are powder free and non-medical as well. All Poly Gloves are 100% Phthalate Free, 100% Latex Free and 100% Silicone Free.

Non Woven Shoe Covers are the newest environmentally friendly material, anti-slip and anti-static, and are loved by customers. The most important feature of disposable shoe covers is that they are easy to use and can be used in a wide range of applications, saving you the trouble of taking off your shoes.

Disposable shoe covers save you the trouble of taking off your shoes and achieving a non-polluting environment. Non-woven disposable shoe covers are made of the latest environmentally friendly materials and are naturally biodegradable.