Microflex Gloves: The Various Types And Applications

The disposable gloves industry has grown tremendously over the last couple of years. For a long time now, natural rubber has been the main component in the manufacture of gloves especially those used for medical purposes. Some of the most common gloves in the market today are nitrile and vinyl gloves.  In most instances, these gloves are collectively referred to as microflex gloves. Each of these gloves has a specific use and is textured to provide tactile sensitivity and consistent grip.

Synthetic rubber is used in the manufacture of nitrile gloves. These gloves do not have latex proteins and they offer some of the best wear and tear resistance. Nitrile gloves are highly puncture resistant which has seen their adoption in environments that involve the handling of dangerous chemicals. Indeed experts have often considered the rugged nitrile gloves to be the strongest in their class. They are ideal for anyone who suffers from latex allergy. Most disposable gloves in the market have high friction resistance. Nitrile gloves on the other hand have very low friction resistance a property which facilitates easy sliding for the gloves. In order to facilitate the easy putting on of these gloves, cornstarch is added to them. Apart from accommodating all hand sizes, they also come in a variety of thicknesses, cuff lengths and textures.

Their high degree of solvent resistance and flexibility is what has made microflex gloves quite popular. Their ability to resist some types of acids and oils is what has endeared them to the manufacturing fraternity. Experts' advice against storing the nitrile gloves in excess heat or light as this can make the rubber to disintegrate quite fast. According to a survey carried out by the Food and Drugs Association, most glove users tend to prefer the nitrile gloves on account of their being easy to put on.

Polyvinyl chloride or PVC is used in the manufacture of vinyl gloves. They are free of latex since PVC is a form of synthetic rubber. These gloves fit more snugly than the nitrile and latex varieties. In addition, vinyl gloves are not as costly as the nitrile gloves. However, they offer less protection in comparison to the nitrile and latex gloves. They are generally used to undertake tasks such as food preparation, cleaning and in some instances, you will find the vinyl gloves being used in industry.  


There are some of the considerations that you to take into account when shopping for gloves; irrespective of whether they are nitrile, latex or vinyl. You have to know the size that you are looking for, comfort level of the glove, whether they are powdered or not, the level of protection that they offer and whether you are allergic to materials used in their manufacture.