What Is Nitrile Coating and What Does It Do?

Chances are, you’ve encountered nitrile gloves before in the form of disposable gloves, especially if you work in the medical or food service industry. This is because nitrile disposal gloves are free of components that contribute to latex allergies. However, there are also higher-quality, protective nitrile palm-coated work gloves that make use of the benefits of this material. So what is nitrile coating, and what does it do?

Advantages of Coated Gloves

Nitrile coatings have some very notable advantages when compared to latex. Not only do they eliminate the allergic reaction some people experience from latex, but they’re also much more resistant to punctures, cuts, and abrasions. They also resist chemicals, oils, and fuels, protecting wearers when handling such substances.

Furthermore, though you may not even realize latex or nitrile gloves have a shelf life, nitrile coatings have much longer shelf lives. So you don’t have to worry about the advantages they bring becoming ineffective over time.

Different Forms of Nitrile Coatings

You should note the application method when considering what nitrile coating is and what it does. This is significant for determining how the nitrile coating functions. The most common application method is flat dipping, which only covers the palm and fingers of the glove. This technique ensures the most vulnerable parts of your hands receive protection while maintaining comfort for extended use.

Manufacturers can also take flat nitrile and whip it into foam. They can then apply the foam as a palm coating, creating foam nitrile gloves. These are especially great for absorbing liquids without compromising your grip strength.

Micropore nitrile gloves also stem from flat nitrile. They have distinct little bumps and divots in their nitrile coatings. These create a suction effect that increases grip and doesn’t absorb liquids like foam nitrile.

Protection and Thickness

As you might expect, the coating’s thickness can affect the amount of protection your gloves provide. Thus, it’s just as important to consider how thick the coating is on the protective gloves you intend to use. As you may also expect, the thicker the coating, the more protective the gloves will be against cuts, tears, chemicals, and so on. The only downside to thicker coatings is that they lessen your dexterity. So they may not be ideal for jobs that require fine motor skills. However, they are great for manufacturing and assembly or automotive settings.