Understanding 3 Key Disposable Nitrile Glove Characteristics

Disposable nitrile gloves find use in a wide range of applications, from industrial processing to medical examinations. While some of these roles may pose little risk to the user, others rely heavily on effective personal protective equipment (PPE). When using nitrile gloves in a setting where dangers are present, it's critical to understand three key characteristics: permeation, degradation, and breakthrough time.

Permeation, Degradation, and Breakthrough Time Explained

It's a common misconception that gloves provide an impenetrable barrier between the user and the outside world. In reality, no material can provide perfect and indefinite protection. However, this doesn't mean nitrile gloves and other disposable materials don't provide adequate protection under specific circumstances.

When working with dangerous chemicals, substances, or biological hazards, it's necessary to consider the permeation and breakthrough times of the gloves used. These two values are related but tell you different things about the material. Permeation is simply the rate at which a substance will pass through the glove, usually given as milligrams per square meter per second.

Breakthrough time is closely related to permeation. You'll typically find breakthrough time given in seconds, minutes, hours, or longer, indicating the length of time after initial contact when a glove will no longer provide sufficient protection for the wearer. Breakthrough time is arguably the most important factor when dealing with hazardous materials.

Finally, degradation is a somewhat less exact measure that describes how well a glove material stands up to certain materials. The better a glove's degradation rating, the longer the glove can remain in use. As with permeation and breakthrough time, a glove will have a unique degradation rating for different types of chemicals.

Choosing the Right Gloves

Nitrile gloves provide good ratings for permeation, breakthrough time, and degradation with many common chemicals and biological hazards. However, the material alone isn't the only decision you'll need to make when selecting a glove. Another critical factor to consider is thickness. Nitrile gloves are commonly available in a wide range of thicknesses.

Glove thickness is always a trade-off, with thicker gloves providing better protection, reduced permeability, and higher degrees of resistance to cuts, tears, and other physical damage. On the other hand, thinner gloves are cheaper, provide better tactile feedback, and may be more comfortable to wear for prolonged periods.

While nitrile gloves are an excellent choice for many environments, the specific thickness of glove material necessary for your application will depend on your needs. Always consider permeation rates and breakthrough time to choose a glove thickness that will provide sufficient protection for the full length of time you will be in contact with hazardous substances.

For more information about disposable gloves, such as black nitrile exam gloves, reach out to a local supplier.